What role do snakes play in ecological balance?

Most snakes are natural enemies of rodents, such as the black-browed rat snake, the oriental rat snake, the gray rat snake, the pit viper, the king rat snake, the brown-black rat snake, the yellow-striped racer, the brown-gray racer, and the cobra, all of which are snakes that feed mainly on rodents.

In addition, some snakes feed exclusively on termites, and they undoubtedly play a huge role in preventing termites and eliminating the damage termites cause to humans. Snakes of the genus Oligodon feed exclusively on the agricultural pest slug. The young of the common European adder and the pit viper mainly prey on insects, and the steppe viper can prey on a large number of insects in a single summer, more than 90% of which are locusts that harm steppe animal husbandry.

It can thus be seen that many snakes play an incomparably important role in eliminating rodent damage and in wiping out insect pests of forests, grasslands and agriculture. It can be said that snakes' contribution to maintaining ecological balance is there for all to see and must not go unacknowledged.