Peak Florida: Snake Eating Another Snake Gets Interrupted By An Angry Wasp

Ed Mazza
Updated

It’s nature at its most ― well ― Florida: a coral snake eating a rat snake while being attacked by a wasp.

Evangeline Cummings, assistant provost and director of University of Florida Online in Gainesville, shared the footage via Twitter and asked for help figuring out just what was going on.

At one point in the now-viral clip, the coral snake thrashes wildly, either in an attempt to chase off the yellow jacket or in response to a sting from the insect:

A doctoral candidate at the university replied:

It’s not clear how the dead snake got into the rose bush or if it was dead when the coral snake found it. But after chatting with experts on Twitter, Cummings settled on a theory:

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Rattlesnake

These snakes are commonly found throughout North and <a href="http://www.theactivetimes.com/content/11-reasons-you-need-explore-south-america-slideshow" target="_hplink">South America</a>. They are the largest of the venomous snakes in the United States, according to the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/snakes/types.html" target="_hplink">CDC</a>. Depending on the species, they can range from one to eight feet. Be careful during hot summer nights when they are most active. They will use their rattles as a warning to you when they feel threatened. <em>Photo Credit: Pixabay</a></em> <a href="http://www.theactivetimes.com/content/world-s-most-dangerous-snakes-0/slide-2?slide=4?slide=4?slide=4?slide=4?slide=4?utm_source=huffington%2Bpost&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=travel" target="_hplink"><strong>Click Here to See The World’s Most Dangerous Snakes</strong></a>

Vipers

Vipers snakes are found all over the world, with a few exceptions. They are <a href="http://www.theactivetimes.com/fitness/n/dog-breeds-have-attacked-most-people" target="_hplink">quick tempered</a> and very fast. A Vipers bite will cause immediate pain, swelling and bleeding. The Gaboon Viper specifically, has the longest fangs of any snake in the world. It likes to ambush its prey and attack by surprise. <em>Photo Credit: Pixabay</a></em>

Blue Krait

This snake is not only one of the most venomous snakes in the world when it comes to humans, but it likes to bite other snakes as well. <a href="http://www.wild-facts.com/2012/wild-fact-139-watch-your-step-blue-krait/" target="_hplink">According</a> to WildFacts, one bite from this snake is <a href="http://www.theactivetimes.com/adventure/survival/10-ways-beach-can-kill-you" target="_hplink">enough to kill you</a>; when it bites you, its venom enters your body fast – it is apparently 15 times more deadly than that of a Cobra snake. <em>Photo Credit: Shutterstock</a></em> <a href="http://www.theactivetimes.com/content/world-s-most-dangerous-snakes-0/slide-4?slide=4?slide=4?slide=4?slide=4?utm_source=huffington%2Bpost&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=travel" target="_hplink"><strong>Click Here to See The World’s Most Dangerous Snakes</strong></a>

Death Adder

Supposedly, the Death Adder was the snake that Cleopatra used to kill herself. One bite from this venomous snake, and respiratory arrest and paralysis are likely to occur. Without treatment, 50 percent of bites <a href="http://www.theactivetimes.com/content/world-s-deadliest-sharks" target="_hplink">usually lead to death</a>. <em>Photo Credit: Thinkstock</a></em>

Sea Snakes

These snakes have <a href="http://www.theactivetimes.com/content/most-dangerous-sea-creatures-we-never-want-encounter" target="_hplink">adapted to life in salty sea water</a>. They are commonly found in the Indian and Pacific Ocean and they come in many different sizes and colors. They have very strong venom and are <a href="http://www.theactivetimes.com/10-summer-dangers-you-should-know-about-slideshow" target="_hplink">poisonous to humans</a>. However, they will not usually strike unless they feel threatened. *Fun fact: They can reach to approximately 9 feet in length. <a href="http://www.theactivetimes.com/content/world-s-most-dangerous-snakes-0/slide-6?slide=4?slide=4?slide=4?slide=4?slide=4?utm_source=huffington%2Bpost&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=travel" target="_hplink"><strong>Click Here to See The World’s Most Dangerous Snakes</strong></a> <em>Photo Credit: Shutterstock</a></em>

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.