Snakes have a lot enemies. Eagles, hawks, owls, raccoons, skunks, weasels, opossums, badgers, coyotes, foxes, armadillos, wild pigs, and even rats dine on snakes. In addition to that fearful people kill thousands of snakes each year. Therefore snakes must have a way of protecting themsleves. Snakes have several different ways of defense. For Example:
When a snake has been spotted it will try to find a way from the predator. If unsuccessful:
The snake will start to rattle its tail to show annoyance.
Or the snake will flicker its tongue in and out in a threatening way.
Another method often used is hissing.
Water moccasins will rear up and open their mouth to a full gape.
North American dwarf boas will roll their coils into tight loops and then hide their head in the loops while their blunt tail sticks out.
I f a snake is captured it may spray the predator with snake musk that comes from the two musk glands at the end of the snakes tail.
The most extraordinary protection method is played by the hognose snake. The hognose will raise its head off the ground, expand the skin of its neck iinto a hood , and then hiss like a cobra. The snake will strike repeatedly as if it would bite but aways fails to open its mouth. If the predator is still consistent the hognose will play possum. It will twist and writhes as if it were dying and then it will roll over on its back with its mouth open and its tongue hanging limp.