Frog against snake. This is not just a plot for an old Soviet cartoon. In the wild, such a meeting is a real battle of characters. Who beats who? The spiky ball or the slippery threat? Myths portray the hedgehog as a fearless winner over vipers. But what is the truth? Let's figure it out without fairy tales. And I warn you right away: the truth will be more complicated and more interesting than any legend.

First myth: the hedgehog eats snakes like seeds

It is often said: the hedgehog is the main enemy of vipers. He catches, kills, eats them. And that's why it is useful to attract hedgehogs to the garden. There is a grain of truth here. The hedgehog can indeed attack a small or weakened snake. He does it skillfully: first he strangles the snake with his paws, then he bites the spine with sharp teeth. There are cases when the hedgehog has eaten a viper, leaving only the head with poisonous fangs. But this is not the rule, but an exception. The main diet of the hedgehog is not snakes, but beetles, caterpillars, snails, worms, occasionally frogs. A snake is a heavy and dangerous prey, on which the hedgehog goes only in times of extreme hunger or despair. A large adult viper can attack a hedgehog, and the outcome is not obvious.

Research by zoologists shows that snakes are found in the stomachs of hedgehogs in less than 2 percent of cases. That is, the hedgehog is not a snake-eater by nature. He is rather an opportunist: if a small snake comes along, he will eat it. If not, he will live happily ever after without it.

Second myth: the hedgehog is not afraid of snake venom

This is the most enduring myth. It is said that the hedgehog has immunity to the venom of the viper, so he dares to enter into battle. And again, the truth is more complicated. The hedgehog does indeed have partial resistance to venom. Due to the special structure of the receptors in the nervous system to which snake toxins are attached, the venom acts more slowly on the hedgehog than on a mouse or a human. But it does act. If a viper bites the hedgehog in a soft part of the body - the snout, belly, paw - he will get sick. The hedgehog will start to swell, have a fever, become weak. If the bite is on the spines, the venom simply does not enter the blood, and everything will be fine. But if the snake bites the snout, a small hedgehog can die. Large hedgehogs usually survive, but suffer greatly. So the immunity is not absolute.

Moreover, there is data that the hedgehog produces antibodies after several encounters with a viper. That is, a hedgehog that has been sick once becomes almost insensitive. But such an experience is only gained by old animals. Young hedgehogs often die from snakebites. So the hedgehog is not an immortal warrior, but a cautious fighter who knows his vulnerable spots.

What does a real battle look like

Imagine: a sunny morning on a forest clearing. A viper is basking on a rock. A hedgehog, returning from his night hunt, steps onto the same clearing. Who will notice the opponent first? The snake sees movement, adopts a threatening posture, hisses. The hedgehog is alert, curls up, but does not run away. Now there are several possibilities.

Option one: the hedgehog slowly approaches, trying to bite the snake in the head. The snake strikes back, but its teeth slide over the spines. The hedgehog gets closer, catches the moment, and bites the snake's neck. The snake twists, strikes with its tail, but after a minute it is dead. The hedgehog eats it, starting with the head.

Option two: the snake is large and aggressive. It rushes at the hedgehog, trying to bite it in the unprotected snout. The hedgehog dodges, jumps back. If the snake reaches the snout, the hedgehog gets a dose of venom. He scurries into the bushes, where he heals the wound for several days. Sometimes he dies.

Option three: the snake and the hedgehog part ways peacefully. No one needs to get involved with such an awkward opponent. The hedgehog changes his route, the snake scurries into a burrow. In the wild, this is the most common outcome.

What snakes does the hedgehog eat

In the central part of Russia, the main snake victim is the common viper. This is a relatively small snake, up to 60 centimeters long, with venomous but short fangs. The hedgehog can deal with it. But there are other species. Water snakes? The hedgehog eats them with pleasure, they are not venomous and less dangerous. The adder? Also on the menu. But with large snakes - for example, the garter snake in the south or the tiger snake in the Far East - the hedgehog prefers not to get involved. Too big a risk. Also, the hedgehog never touches snakes longer than himself. Instinct tells him: this prey is not within reach.

Interestingly, in Australia, where very venomous snakes live, local echidnas (relatives of hedgehogs) almost never hunt reptiles. Evolution has made them insectivorous. And in Europe, the hedgehog and the viper have evolved in parallel, so the hedgehog has developed partial protection against venom.

Who is afraid of whom between the hedgehog and the snake

Oddly enough, but a fact: the snake is afraid of the hedgehog more than the hedgehog is afraid of the snake. To the snake, the hedgehog is a living spiky trap. If she hits and hits the spines, she will injure her mouth, break her teeth. Moreover, the hedgehog is fast and unexpected. The snake relies on ambush, while the hedgehog is an active predator. Therefore, when they meet, most snakes try to crawl away. And the hedgehog, in turn, does not rush at the snake with all his might. He evaluates the distance, size, and likelihood of success.

Zoologists have observed a scene in Central Russia: a hedgehog and a viper met on a path. For several minutes they stood still. Then the snake slowly turned around and went into the forest. The hedgehog stood for another minute and went in the opposite direction. No fight. This behavior is normal.

Can a hedgehog protect the garden from snakes

There is a piece of advice floating around the internet: «If there are vipers in your yard, get a hedgehog - he will scare them away.» Unfortunately, it doesn't work. The hedgehog does not guard his territory like a watchdog. He hunts where the food is tastier. If there are many snails and beetles on the site, the hedgehog will live there, but he may not notice or touch the snake. Moreover, the viper and the hedgehog often coexist peacefully on the same site: the snake hunts mice in one corner, the hedgehog catches insects in another. Encounters are rare. If you want to get rid of snakes, it is better to remove tall grass, boards, shingles - their shelters. The hedgehog is not a panacea.

By the way, the opposite situation is more dangerous: a sick or weakened hedgehog himself becomes prey to a large snake. Pythons regularly eat echidnas in Australia. In Russia, this almost never happens, but theoretically, a large viper can kill a hedgehog.

Frog and snake in culture and folklore

In Russian folk tales, the hedgehog is a cunning and wise animal. He does not kill the snake with force, but outwits it. Remember: not by force, but by cunning. In European heraldry, a hedgehog defeating a snake is a symbol of the victory of good over evil, protection from slander. In Russian icons, the «Snake under the feet» sometimes depicts the hedgehog as a protector from reptiles. And in modern memes, the hedgehog against the snake is a timeless plot of the «invulnerable tank against slippery dps». In general, the cultural legacy is deep.

What to do if you see a fight between a hedgehog and a snake

Nothing. Don't interfere. This is the wild, with its own laws. Don't try to separate them, don't get close. The snake may switch to you. The hedgehog is also nervous in a fight and may bite. It is better to just watch from a safe distance. If you think the hedgehog is losing and dying - remember: this is the way evolution has planned it. Weak individuals disappear, strong ones survive. Your interference can harm both. The only exception: if the fight is on a road or a sidewalk in the city. Then carefully, with a stick, push both into the grass. But it is risky.

Conclusion: the hedgehog and the snake are neighbors, not enemies

Let's draw a line. The hedgehog is not a snake terminator. The snake is not the archenemy of the hedgehog. They have complex, situational relationships. Most of the time, they part ways peacefully. Sometimes the hedgehog wins and eats a small snake. Sometimes the snake kills a young or careless hedgehog. But this is not a war of species, but occasional encounters of two different hunters who share the same territory. What is more important for the hedgehog is the presence of worms and beetles, and for the snake - mice and frogs. That's what you should pay attention to when studying your ecosystem. And don't expect Hollywood-style scenes with fountains of blood. Nature is smarter and calmer than our imagination.

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