Fascinating Viral Video Shows Snakes Hunting Fish

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.

“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.”

[RELATED: There Are Snakes, and Then There Is This African Rock Python]

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:

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.

“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.”

[RELATED: There Are Snakes, and Then There Is This African Rock Python]

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: