Brown Snake Strangles Rat as Guinea Fowls Watch On

Footage of a brown snake strangling a rat while a flock of more than ten guinea fowls watched on was filmed in Gladstone, Queensland, on March 23.

Kelly McBride filmed video which shows the brown snake wrapped around a rat as it widens its jaw in an attempt to swallow the rodent. The large flock of Guinea fowl surrounded the pair.

McBride said she was on the phone with her son when she spotted the snake as it slithered near her car, passing the group of Guinea fowl. “A huge rat jumped out of the tree and legged it down the paddock,” she said. “The next thing I heard was a huge thump onto the ground and I looked over to see the snake had fallen to the ground with Mrs Rat.” she continued. Credit: Kelly McBride via Storyful

Video transcript

- OK. So there's the snake, and we got the Guinea fowls looking. So I just want to-- that's a brand snake too, by the way. So I'll just make sure I keep a-- So as far as, Guinea fowls deterring snakes, yeah. No. I'll just watch where he goes. Guinea fowls are still watching. There he goes.

Well, that was interesting. They follow him. They're watching him. There he is. Look, if he fails, I'd rather don't know him. So he's gone up in the tree. So I'll just make sure I tell Kendall just to be careful when we come out. He was a good size one, too. So he's gone up in that tree somewhere.

Anyway, Guinea fowls are watching him. Hey, guy. I think that was a myth buster. Holy shit, so this is part 2. I just had a rat just fell out of the tree, and now the snake's got something. And the Guinea fowl is still looking. What the hell?

I actually don't know if he's got anything. But the Guinea fowl is looking. This is like really bizarre. I think he's got something. Oh, my god. Guinea fowls, what the hell? [LAUGHS] Oh, I'm going to stop it and start it again. So I only make it like a minute long.

OK, part 3 of the snake and the Guinea fowl and the rat. So there was a rat that jumped out and ran off, and then while I was talking to Jared, this snake just fell out of the tree because he's got something, I think. Oh, look at him. That's so cool. I think I'm going to go and get my camera and get some photos.

OK . All right. They're all here now. Now I don't know where the snake's gone because I've just put my phone down-- my camera. I want to take some photos, but because there's so many heads around the place, he must have taken off. I have no idea where he is.

That was bizarre. That was one of the freakiest things, I think, I've ever experienced in my life. I don't know where he went.