Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It appears by the size of the fern flattened areas (4 to 5 foot circular/oblong) and by the size of the animals missing that a really, really large snake is in the wooded lot next to our house. Twelve years ago a neighborhood kids' 7 foot Burmese python escaped, so we are thinking that perhaps this could be the animal deleting raccoons, possum, and cats from our yard. Does anyone have a suggestion about how I could go about, safely, capturing such a snake?

clhasel
nervous in Florida

I would probably call animal control. Have them go walking around on the property. The general rule for trying to capture snakes is heat, hides, and food as that is what attracts snakes to begin with. How you provide any of those for a large burm that escaped is going to be a stretch, but it can probably be done. Good luck. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

Believe it or not, there are people around who would think it was a great way to spend a day to come out and search for it, if you can convince them you’re on the level. Check if you have a nearby herpetological society (your local Animal Control will probably know) and contact them for advice. Given Florida’s unique circumstances, you also have a number of animal removal services (that charge) with experience catching exotic reptiles. You might post your general location and see if anyone here cares to respond.

Even a monster-length snake can squeeze into an amazingly small space, so check out animal burrows and building crawl spaces. And let us know how it turns out!

-Joan

Thanks for the reply. Your idea of contacting the humane society to see if we have a local snake club was a great idea.
Your comment about confined spaces also made me think back at how nervous our last cat to disappear was whenever he looked under our back porch. It could be that our visitor is camping out right under our noses.
I'll let you know how this ends up. Thank you again for your reply and suggestions.

hey first if your in florida i wouldnt call animal control, they will euthanize" i think thats how its spelled?" it as soon as they get it back to the office, this will also give them further ammo to stop the trade in this industry,as floridas governmental agents are posting several bills to completely stop the trade in any exotic animals, do you live near water, swamps ,creeks , ponds , lakes at all, as fla's gator and crock, populations recently have grown huge, secondly nile monitors are now almost considered indigionous to the lower half of florida, large monitors would have no problem taking out a cat, i like the herp hunt idea by calling local herp groups, you could bait it? build a decent wire cage , have a good sized door that hinges inwards, put a rabbit in it and check back often, and the bonus a pet snake or a pet rabbit, good luck - d