Food:
* Other snakes: Competition can occur between different snake species that share similar prey. For example, garter snakes and rat snakes may compete for small rodents.
* Lizards: Lizards and snakes often compete for the same insect prey.
* Amphibians: Snakes can compete with frogs, toads, and salamanders for similar food sources.
* Birds: Some snakes, like the garter snake, are known to prey on bird eggs and nestlings, competing with birds for nesting resources.
* Small mammals: Snakes can compete with mammals like shrews, voles, and mice for food, especially if they share similar prey preferences.
Habitat:
* Other snakes: Snakes can compete for suitable shelter and nesting sites, especially during breeding season.
* Lizards: Some lizard species, like skinks, may compete with snakes for shelter in rock crevices or burrows.
* Small mammals: Snakes may compete with rodents for burrows and other suitable habitats.
Other:
* Predators: Snakes and birds of prey, such as hawks and owls, can compete for the same prey animals, especially small mammals.
It's important to note that:
* Competition between snakes and native species is often complex and can vary depending on the specific species involved, their geographic location, and the available resources.
* Competition can be direct, where species actively fight over resources, or indirect, where they simply use the same resources, leading to less food or habitat available for both.
* Some snake species may actually benefit native ecosystems by controlling populations of rodents or other pests.
Overall, the extent of competition between snakes and other native species is a dynamic and multifaceted aspect of ecological interactions.