Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was playing with a northern black racer i caught today and tired her out a lot, probly stressed the poor thing out, but anyway, when i let her go she/he had white foam pouring out of its mouth. anyone ever see this before?

It is a toxic alkaloid secreted to melt toads. It has the same properties as Dish soap and Battery Acid. If you get it on your skin you will get warts and you will start foaming at the mouth. Real Answer: The snake either just had a drink but if it was easy to catch it is most likely sick with something like pneumonia, that is common in sick snakes.
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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

the snake was not easy to catch, i tried to get it out of a pine tree for 20 minites then messed around with it for 10 more min before i could even hold it without getting bit. but then right when i put it down it foamed. and then...it literaly disapeared off the face of the planet. i saw it crawling away slowly, turned around for 2 seconds, then looked again and was nowhere to be found. and when i said i caught one i didnt mean keep,i just mean i like grabbed it and took a few pics then sent it on its way. ill post the pics but im not sure how to.

Many snakes salivate heavily when they are captured. Wild D. couperi, which were once classified as a member of the genus Coluber, almost always salivate heavily when captured, though don't go cathing any, unless you have the proper permits for such! Most Heterodon spp. and Thamnophis spp. will do the same, as will many members of the genus Naja.
I have only captured a few wild Coluber spp., but I recall a couple that salivated heavily and one regurgitated a recently eaten frog...

Best regards,

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947