Two Watersnakes Eating Same Catfish

by

On June 17, 2009, I walked along a gravel bar beside the Arkansas River near Barling, Arkansas. The bright morning sunlight lit up the rocks, and the air was calm. As I scanned the area, something unusual caught my eye near the water’s edge—a Watersnake trying to swallow a large Yellow Catfish. This was no ordinary meal. The catfish had its spines erect, and the snake had its jaws stretched wide around its prey.

Determined Predator: Watersnake Devours Catfish
A watersnake works to swallow a catfish head first along the riverbed. The snake’s expandable jaws and muscular body allow it to tackle prey much larger than its head, showcasing a remarkable adaptation for survival. This challenging meal demonstrates the predator’s persistence and the unyielding cycle of life in aquatic ecosystems.

As I approached, the snake spotted me. It took the catfish into the river and started swimming away. I decided to wait. I knew a snake couldn’t eat a fish of that size underwater. I was right. After a short time, it resurfaced, dragging the fish back toward the shore.

Watersnake Navigates the River with a Fresh Catch
A watersnake swims steadily through the river, clutching a catfish firmly in its jaws. The snake’s eyes remain focused as it maneuvers with its heavy prize, demonstrating both its strength and ability to handle large prey.

What happened next surprised me even more. As the snake pulled the fish back up onto the rocks, another Watersnake appeared. The second snake grabbed the catfish by the tail. Now two snakes had latched onto the same fish—one at the head, the other at the tail—each refusing to give up its claim.

They worked their way up onto the gravel bar, each trying to swallow the catfish from opposite ends. I watched, fascinated. Neither snake showed aggression toward the other, though both were determined. The struggle continued until both snakes met at the end of the fish tail. As their jaws touched, the second snake suddenly released its grip. It conceded, leaving the original snake to swallow the entire fish.

Stalemate on the Rocks: Watersnakes Locked Over a Shared Prey
The two watersnakes, still locked in their struggle, hold fast to their shared catch on the rocky shoreline.
Tug of War: Two Watersnakes Compete for a Catfish Meal
Two watersnakes engage in a fierce competition over a catfish, each attempting to swallow the fish from opposite ends.

The losing snake turned its attention to me. It slithered in my direction, perhaps irritated by its loss or my presence. I backed away, standing up from the jagged rocks I had been sitting on, my camera still in hand.

Oh, So You Took My Fish?
After missing out on the catfish, this watersnake slithers over the rocks, locking eyes with me as if to say, “Guess who’s my new target?” With a look that screams “I’m not happy about this,” it inches closer, clearly ready to vent its frustration. Sitting on the rocks in front of it, I suddenly feel like I might be next on the menu!

I was amazed by what I had witnessed. A Watersnake swallowing a Yellow Catfish—spines and all—is no easy task. The photos I captured will show you the size of that fish and the challenge the snake faced. Even after swallowing its meal, the snake struggled to open and close its mouth. The catfish’s slime coated its jaws, making movement sticky and difficult. I watched as the snake worked its jaw repeatedly, then finally slipped back into the water.

Post-Feast Struggle: Watersnake with Slime-Coated Jaws
A watersnake rests with slime-coated jaws after swallowing a catfish, its mouth visibly stretched from the meal. The sticky residue makes movement challenging, as the snake’s body adapts to digest its large prey.

The second snake followed soon after, disappearing out of sight. It had been a rare experience—one snake’s tenacity and another’s reluctant surrender—all played out on a sunlit gravel bar by the river.

I captured this moment handheld with a Canon EOS-1D Mark III and a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS lens. My settings were:

  • Aperture: f/4
  • Shutter speed: 1/2500 sec
  • ISO: 400
  • Focal Length: 500mm

The bright sunlight and rapid movement made these settings crucial for freezing the action. Handholding the camera allowed me to adjust quickly, as the scene played out unpredictably across the rocks and water.

Nature’s raw struggle for survival never fails to remind me why I photograph wildlife. This encounter between two determined Watersnakes and a resilient catfish is one of those moments I won’t forget—it’s the kind of spectacle that keeps me coming back to places like the Arkansas River, searching for the next untold story in the wild.