The article describes 12 instances where snakes were outsmarted, overpowered, or outmaneuvered by other animals, including a rooster, snapping turtles, a mother cat, cottontail rabbits, honey badgers, mongooses, rats, eagles, alligators, baby iguanas, hedgehogs, and praying mantises. These animals used various tactics, such as territorial defense, physical strength, cunning, and unique adaptations, to defeat the snakes and protect themselves or their young.
Here are the facts extracted from the text:
1. Snakes are often at the top of the food chain.
2. A rooster in India killed a cobra that was trying to attack its flock.
3. The rooster swallowed the snake whole after carrying it away from the rest of the chickens.
4. Snapping turtles have a bite force of about 209 Newton.
5. A snapping turtle killed a snake by snapping its head clean off.
6. A cat protected her kittens from a full-grown python.
7. The cat grabbed the snake's head and clawed at it until the snake retreated.
8. Cottontail rabbits are often preyed upon by snakes and other predators.
9. A mother rabbit defended her offspring from a snake by kicking it and eventually killing it.
10. Rabbits have strong legs and can seriously injure someone with their kicks.
11. Honey badgers are known for their ferocity and have been observed attacking much larger prey.
12. A honey badger killed a snake by biting its head and eventually decapitating it.
13. Mongooses are immune to snake venom and will attack snakes.
14. An Indian spectacled cobra can grow up to 7 feet in length and its venom can kill a human in under 30 minutes.
15. A mongoose killed a snake by grabbing it with its mouth and slamming it on the ground.
16. Rats are often preyed upon by snakes, but a mother rat defended her baby from a snake by biting its tail.
17. Eagles are one of the few animals that regularly hunt snakes despite not being immune to their venom.
18. An eagle killed a spectacled cobra by holding it down with its talons and pecking at its head.
19. Alligators have thick, scaly skin that makes it difficult for snakes to bite through.
20. A python attempted to attack an alligator but was unsuccessful.
21. Baby iguanas are capable of defending themselves from snakes shortly after hatching.
22. A baby iguana fought off hundreds of snakes to find safety.
23. Hedgehogs are capable of defending themselves from snakes by puffing up their bodies and using their spikes.
24. A hedgehog killed a viper by biting its head clean off.
25. Praying mantises are natural-born killers with sharp spikes and five eyes.
26. A praying mantis killed a snake by grabbing it and eating it alive.