Sizing up to eat: Myth?

Hi all!
So, backstory: I just posted a picture on my Facebook showing Wanda laying next to me to show how long she's gotten... To which an old friend got really upset and told me she was sizing me up to try to eat me. (She dosen't own snakes so please don't be mean about her thinking that.)
Now, I'm pretty sure that pythons sizing up prey was a myth... I can't imagine a snake in the wild spreading out next to their prey... But, before I tell her that it's a myth, I was just wondering A) am I right in thinking it's a myth (I read it somewhere, but I don't have a source) which leads me on to B) can anyone send me a source saying so? I don't want to spread any misinformation ;)

Thanks!

If that is a fairly recent pic of Wanda in your avatar, and you are larger than a barbie doll, I have a hard time believing the snake was sizing you up. Just saying.

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Originally Posted by cletus

If that is a fairly recent pic of Wanda in your avatar, and you are larger than a barbie doll, I have a hard time believing the snake was sizing you up. Just saying.

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Yeah that photo is from months ago :) She's now as long as my legs!

I get the same response any time I show my coworkers a picture of my girl. Makes me a little sad, as she's an absolute sweetheart. And let's face it, a huge scardycat. It also baffles me how people think a ball python can swallow a human when I see how derpy she is just trying to line up a rat to get it down the hatch.

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It is a myth and one that has been around for a long time.

When I see snakes 'sizing up prey', what they do is look at it. As in, sit there for a moment, I can see their eyes moving as they look up and down and then they decide it's too large and don't strike. I have NEVER seen a snake strike, coil and then do anything to size it up and have never seen one lay alongside something before eating it. They decide before striking if they can handle it, at least in my experience.

http://www.snopes.com/critters/snakes/measured.asp

Pretty much unless you're shorter than 2 feet tall (lol), even adult ball pythons see you as a potential predator.

Their tolerance with you is having learned that humans, such massive strong predators like us, are safe and won't hurt them. Not the other way around.

And they instinctively judge whether a small animal is 1. edible and 2. small enough to eat, by just looking at it for a second LOL. They don't ponder around and measure themselves and measure their prey. That's laughable.

Thank you for all these replies! So I was right then, time to go do some educating :D I'll never understand why people think snakes are so dangerous!

I admit I'm a little confused why your friend got so upset with you? Even if she doesn't own a snake or know better that still seems pretty rude :(

Its ignorance at its finest. :rofl: