This was definitely a heart sinking experience. I had been gone for two days, got home and was checking the animals. Opened the door to the room the 2005 black bloods are in and almost stumbled, something strange underfoot but I was able to avoid actually stepping on it with all my weight (I hope).
I realize I'll probably start some controversy with this, but I put glue traps in the corners of my snake rooms to catch escapees. Every snake I've found in a glue trap I've gotten loose with vegetable oil and gentle, patient, careful work. I've also had snakes get out that haven't gotten onto the glue boards. I've found their little mummified bodies after months of searching, I've never been able to save one of those long dead escapees. That's the reason I use the glue traps. (I do have snakes which CANNOT be allowed to escape. Those are kept in LOCKED cages. But, as a failsafe, that LOCKED room also has glue traps in each corner and at each rack)
Okay, back to the topic -- what had I stepped on? A baby black blood caught in a glue trap! Not only the glue trap but I also stepped on it -- could I have made it any worse than that?!?! DEFINITELY feel super guilty about that.
I immediately take it down to the kitchen, douse the whole snake & trap with vegetable oil. Then I worked the snake off the trap, then got as much glue off the snake as I felt I could without causing too much more stress. Then left her overnight in a container with approx 1cm of oil in the bottom. This morning I worked off more, washed off the oil with a mild soap solution, she seems "uncoated" now, and seems alright, I hope this is the case.
I went ahead and took this pic before putting her away. Fingers crossed, she isn't hurt internally, and will be okay. Because in a year I think she will be one smokin' snake!!


