How can a black snake eat a rattlesnake but not die?

Answer 1

Rattlesnakes are not poisonous, they are venomous. If they are eaten, the venom causes no harm. The venom is only dangerous if it is injected or in some manner is absorbed into the tissues or blood of the victim. Some snakes, such as the kingsnake, are immune to the venom of rattlesnakes.

Answer 2

King Snakes and Milk Snakes both Old and New World are a primary predator of numerous venomous snakes, including Cobra's. A Black snake consuming a Rattler is more likely a Mexican Black King Snake or an Eastern King Snake (Although Eastern's moreoften have thin yellow bands). California King's are normally Black with thicker yellow or white bands, more often in the Pet Trade California Kingsnakes are all black but more often then not as they grow gain other colors browns, grays, whites, or yellows. However all three types of King's live in areas where Rattlers can be found, Mexican Blacks and California Kings inhabit the same areas of Prarie and Diamond Back Rattlers, as a result when confronted both species practices "Tail Ratting", doing this produces a sound like that of a rattle snake. Eastern Kingsnakes not only prey on Timber Rattlesnakes but Coral Snakes as well. Kingsnakes and Milksnakes are slender, unlike most snakes there is no distinction between the head and body where-as most snakes have a spear-like shape. The body build allows for more better manuvering during constriction of another snake, Florida King Snakes can consume a Rattlesnake inches short of their same size. Bull Snakes, though not normally Black also eat Rattlesnakes but usually do not share the same cannibalistic nature King's and Milk's do. The Bull Snake also has a spear-like shape, the smaller jaws of King's and Milk's makes it harder to consume larger rodents that another species of the same size could do with ease. California Kingsnakes inhabit as far South as Arizona and as far East as Nevada, Mexican Black Kingsnakes inhabit the same areas stretching farther South into Mexico. Eastern Kings inhabit the Eastern Coast as far North as Maine and as far South as Florida, The Mississippi River is usually a Western border. The much rarer and harder to identify Blotched King, varies more by color then other Kings and gets larger. Usually Black or Darker gray scales with a lighter outline around them, inhabits more of MidWest. Colorado and Wyoming are home to Bull Snakes which are much larger snake eaters than King's and Milk's naturally, so the siting are rarer. So whichever region you live in decides what snake it is, if its a captive bred snake as a pet then it is most commonly the black morph California Kingsnake.