This Wildlife Showdown Between a Red-Tailed Hawk and Rat Snake Has the Internet Talking
One of my favorite things about living where we do is never knowing what wildlife I'll stumble across when I step outside. I've walked out to unload groceries and come face-to-face with a mama deer and her fawn, spotted a gorgeous screech owl perched on our shed, and even had a juvenile hawk hang out on our deck for more than an hour. We've also had rabbits raise babies near our garden and chipmunks who dart across the yard all day long. Nature doesn't follow a script, and that's exactly what makes it so fascinating.
TikToker @jwalking experienced one of those wildlife moments when he spotted an incredible standoff unfolding right on his front lawn in Ohio. A Red-tailed Hawk and a determined rat snake were locked in an intense showdown, and the cool video has viewers glued to their screens because neither animal seems willing to back down.
@jwalking019 I love a wildlife standoff #RedTailedHawk#snake#nature#clermontcounty
original sound - jwalking
Talk about being in the right place at the right time! @jwalking said in two follow-up posts that he named the red-tailed hawk Hank, but didn't bother naming the snake because he's not a fan of them.
There hasn't been a follow-up letting viewers know how the standoff ended. Based on the footage, it's possible the hawk was a juvenile still learning to hunt, but there's no way to know for certain. Whatever the outcome, we're hoping the snake managed to slither away and lived to see another day.
Related: Baby Hawks Have a Hilariously Dramatic Reaction to a Tiny Butterfly
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Why Rat Snakes Are Actually Good to Have Around
Watching the rat snake coil itself into a tight defensive position was one of the coolest parts of the video. Despite their intimidating appearance, rat snakes are nonvenomous and play an important role in keeping rodent populations under control. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, gray rat snakes typically grow between 4 and 6 feet long and feed on mice, rats, and other small mammals, helping reduce pests around farms, barns, and residential yards.
If you happen to spot one, your best bet is to leave it alone. Rat snakes will often freeze in place, relying on their camouflage in hopes that a predator will pass them by. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources notes that if they're handled, many will rapidly vibrate their tails, strike repeatedly, coil tightly around an arm, and release a foul-smelling musk from their scent glands as a defense mechanism.
Snakes may not be everyone's favorite backyard visitors, but rat snakes are among the best to have around. Give them their space, and they'll quietly go about doing one of the best forms of natural pest control you could ask for.
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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 8:00 PM.