Posted by:
Carmichael
at Sun Feb 3 11:47:24 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Carmichael ]
I am co-writing an article for future publication in a reptile journal (with Dr. Rodrigo Souza of Brazil and Dr. Earl Turner of Tx) on the keeping of bushmasters that includes keeping them in outdoor enclosures (where they are native). It's considered a "primitive" form of herp keeping but you can't beat mother nature in terms of what it provides. There are many, many challenges in keeping herps in this manner (not to mention parasites, etc.) but it can be done and I think that it's a neat idea as long as certain elements are addressed.
Some folks laughed at Chuck but I think your idea has a lot of validity and value. We keep our native turtles in outdoor enclosures and they do great, breed well and have never experienced any problems. Feeding will be a challenge I would recommend not keeping too many in the same "pit". Creating a hibernaculum isn't too hard and will just take a little planning as you have done. There's no textbook way of doing it. I would, however recommend a very gradual grade to draw water away from the artificial den. Also, have a good layer of different size gravel under the den for drainage. If you did a deep enough pit, filled in with flagstone, clay piping and even carpeting and then have a few access areas once filled in will be plenty.
I'd like to hear how this project comes along and don't let others say it can't be done - it can but it will be challenging. You'll probably find a lot of enjoyment of watching your animals in a natural surrounding. Yes, you can always better monitor herps in a controlled, indoor setting but whose to say that's the best way.
Rob Carmichael
Wildlife Discovery Center
>>By next fall I am hoping to move to a unpopulated area on Sand Mtn, in the great state of AL. One of the things I am planning to do after I am moved is set up an outside "pit" or enclosure for pit vipers. I am only planning to keep regionally collected animals in there. Most likely the snakes I pull from peoples yards and barns. I am thinking about using cinder blocks and sinking the wall 12 inches into the ground and have about 48 inches showing above ground. No gates or doorways. the only way in or out is over the wall. Thinking about making it 20 feet by 20 feet and placing a filtered pond in the center. I have 2 issues that I need to resolve for this plan and i would like input from anyone who has ever set up such an enclosure. first issue, i need some sort of artificial den for the winter months. I do not want to use anything eclectic. i don't want to run the risk of a power outage killing off the snakes outside. what i am thinking is a plastic footlocker, insulated on the top and sides. half inch holes cut in the bottom to allow water to filter out should any make it in. Then digging out an area and placing gravel in the hole, the box on the gravel, then burying the box 18 inches underground. snakes will have access thru a PVC pipe running underground to the box. also planning to put hay inside the box in late fall. The hay should create a little of its own heat over the winter months. Second, looking for an expedient way to feed the collection of snakes inside the pit. I think tossing in couple dozen live mice would get some feed, but many of the mice will dig or climb out. throwing in dead mice, i think the prolific eaters will feast and the more reluctant will starve. I plan to keep fish and fogs in the pond, so the cottonmouths can probably earn a living from the pond. Some coppers may follow suite, but I don't think the timbers will ever assimilate to an aquatic diet. Another thought is day old chicks right out of the egg. no chance of those digging or climbing out, but not sure how difficult it will be to have access to those spring to fall. of course, no feed from about late oct to april. Thank you and look forward to the feedback.
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>>Samuel 'Chuck' Hurd
>>Professional Educator / Venomous Reptile Curator
>>www.ChuckHurd.com
>>423.580.7513 (txt capable)
>>
>>
>>Chuck Hurd Serpentology
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL
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RE: Outside enclosure for pit vipers - Carmichael, Sun Feb 3 11:47:24 2008
