You know what, I was looking at that carcass and thinking, "doesn't look like a cat attack" Now that it has been mentioned, it does look like a bird did that.

Don't feel bad Steve. The snake was probably sick, or otherwise comprimised. The bird did the rest of the population a favor. The bird enforced health regulations. This actually helps the species survive. I keep trying to pound that in, but I can also understand your dismay. Things get eaten. Plain and simple.

Just today I was out herping. There I was on the edge of a shallow pool of water filled with small bullfrogs(invasive species) and that shallow pool was almost cut off from the main creek. Also in that shallow pool were fingerling salmon. Salmon that were plentiful (you could walk across on their backs) in the 60's. Totally wiped out by 1972. Restoration efforts paid off, and salmon are returning. My point is, no bird or snake (lots of large concinnus there too) could ever catch one of those healthy fingerling salmon. They can only catch the weak or sick ones. Natures little helpers. Cleanup crew, if you will. Nothing is wasted. Eliminating the weak or sick helps. As hard as it is to see, it is actually a good thing!