snakes will be snakes

Life began to fade from the pleading eyes of his prey as the boa constrictor squeezed his coils even tighter. It was then that he saw a larger rodent approaching that would make a more satisfying meal. He thought to himself, “This is why I need fingers. I could grasp that rodent as well as eat the one I already have.”

Since he had no fingers and was too greedy to let the larger rodent pass, he released his hold on the one he had and started slithering toward the larger one. But then he saw other snakes slithering toward that same prey. Were they as foolish as he? Had they too just released their smaller prey to seize this larger, yet unattained, prize?