Photo: Texas Squirrel about to Chow Down on Snake

Think squirrels are strictly herbivores? Think again!

This photo taken by rangers in Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas shows a rock squirrel about to take a meaty bite out of an unfortunate snake. We’ve seen squirrels fight—and beat—snakes before, but usually the reptile managed to slither away before becoming dinner.

“Don’t mess with Texas squirrels!” warned the park’s staff on Facebook. “Rock squirrels eat mostly plant material, fruits, and nuts, but don’t let their humble appearance fool you. They will also eat bird eggs, lizards, and snakes. […] Ranger William [Leggett] heard a racket outside the Frijole Ranch and then recorded the entire epic battle. The squirrel devoured most of the snake, bones and all, down to the last two inches.”

Yikes. At least if we see a bunch of snake tails laying about, we’ll know what happened.

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