Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I work at a nature center and a lady came into. We had a warm weekend and apparently that woke up some snakes. She found a baby milk snake in her basement and decided to drop it off with us. I plan to release it but I am concerned for a number of different reasons. 1) that the snake will starve - will all the recent activities it has burned a lot of calories so I don't believe it would have enough fat to last the rest of the winter 2) It won't be able to find shelter before it is eaten by another animal - the nature center isn't its orginal home 3)It will freeze to death before it can find a den What I was planning to do is feed it and then when we have a week or so of warm weather release it. Now my problem..... what do I feed it. I mean this little guy is tiny!! It is about the thinkness of a pencil. I bought some crickets but he hasn't shown any interest in them. Am I barking up the wrong food tree or is he still in too much shock to eat yet? Please let me know if any of my thinking is wrong!

Well, from you mentioning a basement, you obviously live pretty far north somewhere. Believe it or not their metabolism slows to almost nothing when it is cold, and they don't hardly use any colories to speak of at all. Even a snake that size(yearling) can go for months with no food at all...depending on where you live, if it is fairly pleasant out,go ahead and let it go,it will find a comfortable spot until it's time to emerge permanently for the spring,..because it was in "hibernation mode" just prior anyway, whatever you do, do not take him from a cozy home temp, and put him out in a very cold environment,that wouldnt be good, but if it's in the high 60-70s, go ahead and let it go. He will do fine,...that's better than you having to learn the ins and outs of the husbandry of feeding a finicky milksnake...they can be a hassle for someone that doesn't have a "knack" for their needs,its better this way,......best regards,........Doug ps let us know where you live, and the temperature in the area.....take care, Doug
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Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!

Oops, that might help huh? I live in Michigan. The snake has been in the comfy room temp for a few days now. So if I gradually cool it down over a few days, then release it will that be gentler on his system?

Oh and there is stil snow on the ground in most spots. Also, when i do release it, is it ok if it in't in its home area

Wow!,....that IS way up there in the COLD!!.....there MUST be someone "into" snakes you could give it to?,....until you decide what to do with it, put him in a TIGHT LIDDED shoe box sized plastic container(or similar)make ABSOLUTELY SURE there are no gaps,holes(except air holes to breath) as they are literally, the best escape artists on the planet!!...then put a light layer of aspen, or pine chips (absolutely no cedar) on the bottom as substrate.......put a small plastic cottage cheese container,or something similar with about a one inch "notch" taken out of the rim (placed upside down)for him to crawl into. This is EXTREMELY important to do(even two of them) as this will make the snake MUCH MORE secure and he will be way more likely to start feeding when these correct husbandry issues are addressed!....small water dish. and he'll be fine for a while...Don't attempt to feed him just yet, as he has to acclimate himself back into your "warmer environment"....gradually get him up into the upper 70's....his natural prey of lizards,smaller snakes,frogs could be hard to come by, but they also eat mice, and in captivity are usually fed mice only anyway...so you could start by going to a pet shop and getting a "pinkie" newborn mouse and placing it directly in front of his hide box, and walk away(put him in area of NO TRAFFIC/MOVEMENT)so he doesn't get distracted with other movement. This is also VERY important, especially to a freshly wild caught snake....many times they will answer their "front door" with a bang, and go ahead and feed....this will help you get on the right track, hope he cooperates!LOL,...........Doug
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Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!