You’ve seen how grizzlies in Alaska perch at the top of small waterfalls and snatch up salmon as they leap upstream, but have you seen snakes hunting fish in a similar manner? I hadn’t seen or even heard of this behavior until I saw a viral video from Vijith Bhargav. Bhargav’s fascinating video shows snakes in a river doing a version of the grizzly bear/salmon trick. They wait for fish to attempt to leap over a small waterfall and then try to snatch them in the air.
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“As a wildlife enthusiast who learns about wildlife behavior through documentaries or in-person experiences, I’ve never witnessed, seen, heard, or even learned about this hunting technique from snakes,” Bhargav wrote in his Instagram post sharing the footage. “Sure, I knew that bears often wait at water ledges, waiting for fish to cross the ledges and catch them timely. But with snakes, I’ve never known.”
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Bhargav and a companion were exploring local villages in India when they ended up observing about 20 snakes waiting at a specific spot at a river. After filming in slow motion, Bhargav was able to piece together what was happening and why.
He added: “Nature is full of surprises every time.”
Watch snakes hunting fish here:
Header stock image by mattiselanne / 500px/Getty Images
