Care for Wild Snakes

Laws

In most areas it is illegal to catch and keep any wild animal, including snakes. Although some people may have special permits for doing so, most people should not try to keep any wild animal for any reason. If injured there are wildlife rehabilitation centers for which a veterinarian can put you in touch. The laws are designed to protect wildlife and keep them in their natural habitats. They are also designed to protect humans, and domestic pets, from coming into contact with diseases found in wild populations.

Protecting Wild Areas

Snakes do best when left alone in areas where they can hunt and nest. They need to have places to hide, particularly in areas where they hibernate in the winter months. As well these wild areas must have habitats for those animals that snakes feed on, everything from small insects, to birds and their eggs, to larger mammals, depending on the species of snake.

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Curtail Use of Pesticides

When we use pesticides it is only a matter of time before they enter the food chain of wild snakes. As such it is very important that, if we want to care for wild snakes, we stop using chemical pesticides and insecticides.

Education

Some people fear snakes out of a primitive nature for survival, and as such often lash out at them. Many snakes are killed for no other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. People need to be educated that snakes are to be respected not feared. Even poisonous snakes do not typically bite unless threatened, cornered, or surprised. In most areas there are professionals that will come and capture dangerous snakes when they enter human areas. The other aspect of education is to teach people that snakes are of value in the ecosystem, eating many insects, mice, rats, and so forth.

Reptile species are on the decline in most areas so when people ignorantly remove wild animals to keep them as pets they are removing valued breeding animals from nature, thus contributing to their decline in the wild, which is a terrible cruelty to a species as a whole.

Snakes are Tricky to Care for Properly

Snakes have very specific needs in terms of heating and lighting.  They will not survive long healthy lives when placed in a tank without such.  Taking an animal from the wild (even where it is legal) and keeping it as a pet is cruel if one cannot provide enough space and meet the specific needs in terms of heat and special lighting.  Also one must be able to provide the snake with the correct diet according to species.  Domestic snakes will eat prefrozen food, but wild caught ones generally need live food only.

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Injured Snakes

As mentioned earlier if you encounter an injured wild snake it should be taken to a proper wildlife, or reptile, rehabilitation center. If you do not know where one is in your area, contact a veterinarian or zoo. Keep the snake warm and in a box for transportation rather than handling it.

Overall

Remember if you want to care for a wild animal the best way to do so is keep it in the wild and protect wild areas further so these animals can live their lives naturally and reproduce.

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