Can a whelk eat a hermit crab?

Yes, a whelk can eat a hermit crab. Whelks are carnivorous marine snails that prey on various invertebrates, including crustaceans like hermit crabs. They use their specialized radula to drill through the hard shell of the hermit crab to access its soft body. However, the likelihood of this occurring depends on the size and species of both the whelk and the hermit crab.