I caught a garter snake in the process of eating a frog. It was in my back yard and will have to be relocated - too much contruction in my hood and there will no longer be habitat for it. About 4 hours after I caught it, it threw up the frog it had swallowed. I'm taking it to a creek down the road tomorrow, what do I do in the mean time?
2007-09-20 14:49:09 · 22 answers · asked by Jennifer M 2 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
I do not have to get the local authorities involved - snakes are not rpotected here. If I let it go where it was found, it will most certainly be killed by the construction workers who just destroyed this little guys beautiful habitat. I've already seen them kill a huge rat snake. I can assure you, I am not going to make a purse out of this one - although it is quite beautiful. After we show it to the kids at school, it is going to be released in a protected greenbelt that runs through the city.
2007-09-20 15:06:42 · update #1
It will be fine. Relocate it to the creek as planned. The regurgitation was from stress and a safety mechanism so that the snake can move quickly in the event of danger. Unfortunately, with wild species, this means that he'll have to hunt another meal...perhaps one that already took him weeks to get. It's better if he doesn't eat again for at least a week anyway so that he can recover. Next time, I would relocate it immediately if you know that it's eaten instead of holding on to it for show and tell or whatever. I know that it's a great experience for the kids, but it's not so great for an animal that's just eaten. If you catch one in the future that hasn't recently eaten, then use that for show and tell.
2007-09-20 23:02:25 · answer #1 · answered by gallianomom2001 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Please, please take it down to the creek and let it go now, and see if you can borrow a snake from a pet store for show and tell. It is illegal in almost every state in the US to take an animal out of its habitat, and you could have the department of fish and game knocking at your door. Especially since you are taking the snake to a public venture where a parent could call and complain about it.
Garters are shy snakes even in captivity, and get stressed easily. Regurgitating is a sign of extreme stress, and no snake should be handled within two days of it eating. You are putting the snake in danger keeping it in captivity, even for a few hours. Plus, Garter snakes are rear-fanged venomous. Generally not enough to hurt a human, but I have seen some bad allergic reactions when someone is bit, especially in children. Do you really want to expose the children at the show and tell to something that could hurt them? And no, I am not making this up. Google it, if you don't believe me.
Please, please let the snake go.
Good luck.
2007-09-20 17:52:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It'll be fine. Don't let it escape inside the house and let it go in a place you think is nice tomorrow. In the future, the snakes you find will be fine where they are. Garter snakes can live in densly populated areas and will help the people who live there by eating the bugs and small moles and stuff. They're such nice snakes, it's good to have a population around your home and they will run for cover and survive the construction. Relocating them may only deprive an un-relocated one of a mate.
2007-09-20 15:02:08 · answer #3 · answered by chuckyoufarley 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Snakes shouldn't be handled for at least 48 hours after eating, otherwise regurgitation is a problem. He is stressed by his sudden captivity. Best thing to do would be release him asap, but he should be ok to show your sons class--just keep him in the tank and don't let everyone touch him and stress him out more than he already is.
2007-09-20 15:51:45 · answer #4 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You need to let it go NOW- regurgitating meals is a sign of extreme stress. The snake is not comfortable where it is. It will continue to stress as long as you keep it and will possibly die. Wild animals are not show and tell, and I don't think you're teaching your son or his classmates how to be responsible by showing them it's okay to capture wildlife and hold it hostage. Not to mention wild snakes carry a ton of diseases, intestinal parasites, and mites/ticks- why exactly do you think it's a good idea to drag that into a school full of children?
Take the snake down to the creek NOW and leave it alone.
2007-09-20 15:13:18 · answer #5 · answered by Dreamer 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Just clean it up, put it in a box, and put it back if it doesn't get loose in the classroom,the snake will find a new habitat, and its better off starting from where it is familiar.
2007-09-20 14:54:05 · answer #6 · answered by dandmeveritt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Snakes often throw up their food if they are stressed or cold. Keep the snake warm (at least 75 degrees F) until you can take it to the stream. They can go for quite some time without food so don't worry about feeding it.
2007-09-20 14:55:09 · answer #7 · answered by kcpaull 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Ha ha ha ha ha! Me individually, i think of i could shove the balloon up his ****! even however, as that's in all probability somewhat harsh i could decide for decision A, observed via decision C to dry him off then i could decide for decision E, cos that's often good to tell your mummy! i could go away the cat out of the entire difficulty however, unfavourable factor hasn't completed something incorrect in all of this!
2016-11-06 00:12:56 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's the problem here? Are you asking if you should clean up the half-eaten frog? Is the frog still alive? (Really lucky frog, if so). If it is still alive just put it in a cook pot with some water, and it should survive til it gets to the creek. I guess you got more nature than you bargained for, wow!
2007-09-20 14:54:21 · answer #9 · answered by desperatehw 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
you do not take snakes from the wild let alone touch one while it is eating.
After a snake has eaten they are not meant to be touched for at least 3 days thats why it was sick! so put the poor thing back where you found it and dont get any more!!!
2007-09-20 20:38:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋