Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This was captured today in north Alabama, right in the city. We convinced our neighbor not to kill it. It's about 2' long, pure white, no markings whatsoever, black eyes.

What do you thing? Naturally occuring, or an escaped pet? Should we release it? Although I feel fairly certain it's non-venomous, I wanted to check before we release it (a couple of years ago, a local kid had a pet mamba (!!!) that escaped).

Thanks ya'll

monty

It's a "Leucistic" Texas Ratsnake that got loose from someone!

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Well, we've had a.....ummm........."security breach", and the snake escaped into our backyard. Hope we'll see it around sometime. It's a beautiful creature.

Thx for the help, Doug

Doug (aka montysano)

Wow!....that sucks!,.....I was also going to add...do NOT let it go in your area, as they are not native there. I guess it doesn't matter now though!LOL.

If you should be lucky enough to ever catch it again, you could sell it without much of a problem for around $75.00 or so to an idividual, or pet store.

Odds are, you'll never see it again, but keep your eyes "peeled
just in case!, at least they are easy to see since they are pure white, but that is also a bad thing for the snake, since it sticks out like a "sore thumb" to predators as well.

good luck! ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

It could be either an escaped leucistic Texas Ratsnake or a leucistic variant of the local Black/Gray Ratsnake.

Remember the original Leucistic Texas Ratsnake that produced all the captive lines was wild caught near the city of Houston, so don't count out it being another wild leucistic.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Well, we saw it this morning, sunning itself by our garden shed.

Does anyone have an opinion on what we should do now? If it's an escaped pet, can it fend for itself in the wild? Or should we attempt to recapture it and find it a home? We'd be happy to have it live in the backyard, but are afraid our dog might kill it.

The earlier poster is correct: that white coloring has to be a big disadvantage against predators.

It won't survive long as a wild snake.
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V.P.
Austin Herp. Soc.

I agree. The snake's instincts will enable it to acquire food, but it is hawk food just waiting for a hawk.

~~Greg~~

There is also the possibility that it could carry a foreign disease that it got from another captive reptile and could spread it in the wild. It may also be able to breed with the local species of rat snake if it lives long enough.

If you get the chance to recpture it, please do so.
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

Hey, I live in Fayetteville, TN. I work in Huntsville Monday-Friday. If you do see the snake again I will gladly give it a good home. I can even give you some $$ for your trouble. I have 11 snakes right now and plenty of room and food for that awesome guy. I visit the site everyday but I had to register to respond to this, thinking you might be near Huntsville. Please let me know something. Thanks alot.

Hey TNsnakeman,

Yes, we're in Huntsville. If you'd like, you can contact me directly at dabennett at knology dot net.

If we can recapture him, we'll just be looking for a good home for him, and won't want any money. But recapturing appears, at this point, to be a big "if".

Doug

Awesome!! I'm glad to hear that you are close. I hope you do see him again. I'd hate for him to be in the wild too much longer, that white color won't help him a bit. I sent you an e-mail with my contact numbers. Good luck. Thanks

-Corey

Hey, Im from Scottsboro. I could easily meet up with you and take the snake from your hands. I would even offer to pay you. Thanks alot. Zach.