Snakes are important as both predators and prey in the ecosystems in which they are found. For the purposes of this piece, we’ll focus on the ecological significance of snakes in the upper Midwest, particularly in Wisconsin.
All snakes are carnivorous (meat-eating) and not at all interested in eating plant matter. In Wisconsin, the size of prey item eaten by snakes ranges from insects (e.g., beetles) to pocket gophers.
The sheer number of insects and small mammals eaten by snakes contribute to snakes’ ecological significance as predators in their habitats. They are some of the predators that keep more abundant animal populations in check, which contributes to plant and animal diversity.
The propensity of many snakes to eat insects, ticks and rodents contributes to disease reduction. Many snakes will eat not only ticks, but the white-footed mice that have been determined to be important vectors in the Lyme disease cycle. By preying on ticks and white-footed mice, snakes may help to reduce the number of Lyme disease cases.
While snakes serve as predators, they also are taken as prey by other animals in their habitats. Many birds eat snakes such as hawks, owls, and crows. A number of mammals will feed on snakes including badgers, foxes, raccoons, bobcats, mink and skunks. Although snakes are generally not the only prey taken by a given predator, they do contribute to the sustenance of these animals.
Some snakes contribute to soil quality by improving aeration when they hunt through leaf litter and dig burrows in sandy soil.
Snakes can also serve as indicators of habitat quality. For example, smaller snakes that feed on insects are found in areas where insects are abundant (e.g., where they are not poisoned).