Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone can tell me if feeding young squirrels to my burm would be ok, getting rats is not a problem but I have been trapping some squirrels that are destroying my garden and didn't know what else to do whith them. I was throwing them away when i had an idea, since Im not one to just waste them I thought maybe my python can eat them. I wasn't sure if they had parasites but what if I freeze them and thaw it out first? anyway your help would be appreciated

thanks,
Kyle

im sure they pack the protein and goods a snake would need but also dont those types of things carry nasty stuff with them? im no pro but i would stay away how bout some rabbits?
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1 Burmese python
1 savu python
1 blood python
2 Uromastyx mali, Nigerian
2 savannah monitors
some other gems i will leave out..

I've done this in the past with my Ball Pythons. There IS the risk of parasites involved with wild caught rodents though.

Quig

What if I freeze them doesnt that kill the parasites? Its not a big deal I can get rats and rabbits but I hate letting those squirrels go to waste.

I've asked this same question. I have a ton of squirrels around my house that I've been shooting due to the amount of damage they've been doing. I was told to freeze them.
I also treat for parasites, so that may not be an issue. I'd cut the tail. But you can actually sell that part.
And today, I had my dog all over a woodchuck, and could'nt help thinking... My burms can eat those!
If your burm can't eat squirrel, remember these words...tastes just like chicken...then again, so do rabbits.
Man...who'd ever thought I'd be competing with mysnakes for food!!???
I'd want rabbits and squirrels...the snakes can have the rats!
Bottom line...check with your vet first. Mine is a herp specialist. So I trust him completely.
I also hunt, and shoot a bunch of gamebirds each season. That is tempting as well.

I hope freezing them would work because it seems like a good idea with all the extra squirrels around here lately. when you say cutting the tail do you mean cut it off? if my burm could eat other stuff i hunted I could save a little money but its not a problem. Im also thing of breeding my own snake food in the future.
thanks,
Kyle

Yup...I mean cutting the tail right off. There's nothing there.
Use it to tie flies for trout fishing.
I'd be leery of feeding animals I hunt do to the presence od lead.
I know it needs to be ground up in the system to be harmful, but why take that chance. Squirrels...my ammo usually passes through.
If you search the archives here, you'll find this subject discussed many times.
And for the record, I've never fed any of my animals something I've hunted. Only herp supply purchased food.
The only exception is small fish I trap for turtles and frogs.

they are not going to waste? if you see any other wild animal outside would you be concerned if they are going to waste too? take them somewhere far from your little house and let them go. buy some rats like you should and get on with it. holy crap! anyways if you were CONCERNED for your snake then you wouldn't feed it something from outside like that.
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0.1.0 cranwells pacman- hannibal
0.0.1 firebelly toad- doodlebug
0.1.0 southern painted turtle- mr.tortle
1.0.0 pinto hedgehog- dante
1.0.0 chinese crested- angel..lol
1.0.0 ball python- noah (kinda mine)

I have never fed my snakes anything but domestic animals. You don't seem to have a clue what I was saying so just SHUT THE F**K up already. I breed rabbits and get rats easily. I don't understand why you even replied to the quetsion after I got the answer a month ago. Don't tell me how I take care of my burms.