Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I havn't posted this picture in a while, but I thought this yellow ratsnake was an excellent example of a nice specimen. Photo shot at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg Va.

Steve

kate seems a little scared the way shes holding it. She seems to have a death grip around its neck...which could make people looking think "hey look how shes holding it she does that so it wont bite her cuz its mean" or something....just little things like that that people do make more leary or flat out scared of snakes. if she would have let it crawl around her hands freely it would be a lot better for people to look at.

and for the people who are scared can stand in the back of the crowd. or the other side of the park, depending on how scared they are.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)

If you ever come across a 'wild' snake then you will know why she is holding the snake like that. A rat snake that big will give you a really nasty bite and I am sure the snake wasn't exactly being friendly. I have handled plenty of snakes and while I can avoid retraining some snakes by the base of the head/neck some people have been taught that is how you hold a snake. Some snakes I will hold by the back of the head. I had a 5 foot black racer on my lawn and didn't want to run him over so I went to remove him from my lawn. Seems the racer was pretty ticked off so I held him by the neck(racers are real nasty!!)Now I am sure Kate didn't want to get chewed on by a yellow rat snake so thats why she is holding it like that..be glad they even picked it up as she could have easily stepped on it's head and threw it in the trash..
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Reptiles
0.1 - Early 2002 Anery Motley Corn 33 1/2"
1.0 - Late 2003 Yellow Rat Snake 15 2/3"
0.0.1 - 2003 Banded California King Snake 29 2/3"
1.0 Green Anole
0.0.0 House Gecko
0.1 Painted Turtle

Mammals
4 female ferrets,1 male cat and 1 male doberman...and a few kids!

RIP - Nala my Rottie 08/19/2004

If that was found near Bush Gardens Williasburg, then that was someone's pet that escaped. Yellows are not found that far north. We have nice Blacks in this area, but not Yellows. Someone lost a nice looking snake.

to Busch Gardens and is a part of their nature exibit. That yellow rat is one of several snakes that belong to the park. Most of the exibit snakes she had no problem handling, with the exception of this guy, which is why she is holding him that way. She was nice enough to bring him out to show me when I had inquired about the yellow rat. I told her I'd love to take this problem child off of Busch Gardens hands, but they wouldn't go for it, LOL. Very nice looking Yellow Rat, attitude or not.

Steve

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That is a very nice looking yellow regardless ... I hope my yellow turns out like that.. I would be REAL HAPPY.
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Reptiles
0.1 - Early 2002 Anery Motley Corn 33 1/2"
1.0 - Late 2003 Yellow Rat Snake 15 2/3"
0.0.1 - 2003 Banded California King Snake 29 2/3"
1.0 Green Anole
0.0.0 House Gecko
0.1 Painted Turtle

Mammals
4 female ferrets,1 male cat and 1 male doberman...and a few kids!

RIP - Nala my Rottie 08/19/2004

I didn't realize it was a wild snake. and yes i've handled plenty of wild snakes...been bitten plenty of times as well, lol. and yes, i've handled active snakes (like a coachwhip) in that fashion before, but I was presuming that it was a more docile snake and it was being held like that for no apparent reason. but yea i agree if its active may bite then heck id hold it like that also lol
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

A fool doesn't learn. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Which one are you?

My Website
Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)