Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, Im a 7th grade science teacher and we have a wild caught snake that I believe is a rat snake. He/she eats well (pinkies) in front of 20-30 kids and is easy to handle. The first few weeks I got bitten a few times but not in the last 3 or four feedings. I would really like to know as much about it as I can. I would appreciate any help. Thanks

i am not to good at the whole picture thing so if you go to my schools website at www.franklinco.k12.nc.us/ccms/wm.htm
there is a picture of the snake on its feeding table and if you click on it a much closer view will pop up.

The caption showed up, but not the pic. Hmmm.....
It's wonderful for your kids to have this opportunity. My preschoolers have a mexi black kingsnake named Inkus as a classroom pet. Wish I could be of more help!

regards,
althea

Black rat snake. They grow to be about 5-7 feet long. Mine are very docile, but as we all know 7th graders are very rowdy people. especially when it comes to animals they get to touch.

I think its a wonderful thing that teachers are bringing snakes into class to help educate that snakes arent the "slimy and disgusting" creatures most people see. However I will offer a couple words of advice, to cover your own butt.

Make all the kids get a parental waver consent form before you let them handle the snake. If a kid gets bit, as you say some have, that could lead to a lawsuit - especially if the parent didnt know what was going on. Also 7th graders tend to tell everyone everything, so get it cleared with the principal or whomever needs to be contacted.

make the kids wash their hands before and after handling the snake. Even though a black rat snake is not venemous, if there is a live bacteria on the skin and the kid gets bitten, then it can form its way into the body causing the kid to get sick. Again, another liability.

Also, telling us that the snake bit but seems docile tells me the kids were being rowdy. I'd make a rule that if they got too rowdy, the snake went back in the cage. Make it a reward for good behavior to take time away from studies and get to take the snake out.

If you want some basic care information, check out the care sheet in my signature. It goes over the basics. I'd read all you can find on the subject, and never take one thing as the bible.
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-Chris

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
N. American Rat/Corn snake care sheet I wrote

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Black Rat (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)
0.1 Blue Beauty (Brunhilde)
1.0 Green Tree Python (Monty)

Thanks so much for your help. I love all the suggestions and will start on them immediatly. By the way, no kids have been bitten, just me. Your advice on liabilities is great. My principal has already offered to kill the snake for me if it does anything wrong. You wouldn't believe the rediculous paranoia surrounding snakes here. I am from oklahoma and have never seen such rediculousness. There is no telling how many snakes I have had to save from shovels and hoes since moving here. This is the first one that I have kept. Glad I did!!!

Crtoon pretty much has it covered for you. He brings out some good points about liability. My kids get to touch Inkus on his back with two fingers. Plus, at Orientation Night I encourage all of the parents to meet (and touch) Inkus for themselves.
Best of luck to all of you!

regards,
althea