Emergency Stop For A Snake

[theanimallover]

I just had to do an emergency stop, and missed a snake by centimetres! Phew. I wondered what short of snake it was? It didn't look like an adder or a grass snake it was very bright green with a yellow belly and about 3 feet long, oh and it was skinny.

Thanks,
K

[Deb London]

I believe Philodryas baroni are sold as pets. Could it be this?

Philodryas baroni - Google Search

[theanimallover]

Yes, it could have been, certainly looked like that. Will it survive our weather?

K

[aeshna5]

Whereabouts in the country was this + what sort of habitat were you in?

[theanimallover]

W. Berks countryside - I'd say farmland.

[King Edward]

Grass Snake is the most likely, especially in a farmland location. Green with yellow underside sounds OK for this.
Edit: I meant to add that these can be quite variable in colour, but there a lot of online photos of them so you might find one that matches yours. Males are thinner than females, and shorter (3 feet would be pretty big for a male, 2-2.5 feet would be more typical).

[theanimallover]

I have to say it all happened really quickly, so you are right it was probably a grass snake.

I just saw a very bright green and yellow.

It's the first time I've seen a snake crossing the road!

[Stapey]

Originally Posted by Deb London

I believe Philodryas baroni are sold as pets. Could it be this?

Philodryas baroni - Google Search

I hope not! They are an expensive escapee snake that can give a nasty bite, for those sensitiveness to bee and wasp stings even though they are rear fanged! If you find him though you can post him to me if it this this snake I have been after one of these or a Rhino ratsnake which is very similar looking to Barrons racers for ages A lot of snakes are bright green though, specially without a good look.

[fairplay]

A question for you Stapey :

Do you think it is right to keep a wild creature in captivity solely for your pleasure and to be gawped at ?
Whether they are bred in captivity or not, I don't know, but should that make any difference ?

I ask this question (A) because I feel it is not right, and (B) because one hears so many times of these pets escaping only to die in a cold winter, or being released on purpose when the owner becomes bored or has to move.

With an intentional release, there is the threat to our own native wildlife, or the obvious outcome of the creature dying from our winters or starvation.

Neil.

[Stapey]

Sorry if I rant, but here goes! I don't think it matters what people have as a pet, people can have whatever animal they want and call it their pet as far as I am considered as long as the person who owns it knows what they are in for.

It also depends what you define as "wild". No animal is truly domesticated yet, people will say it is unfair to keep birds and reptiles as pets as they are "wild" yet, own a cat or a dog which I think is highly unfair. You hear of dog attacks and cat attacks, they are loose and free wandering about areas, but most people consider them domesticated, I don't think they truly are as such.

I love seeing my snakes, they are captive bred and have a better life with me than they would in the wild, I'm not inflating any kind of ego, it's just simply true. I know the behaviour of my animals, I know when they are stressed or don't want to be handled, they know my scent, they know I'm not a threat and actually, they do more looking at me than I do looking at them! I've owned them for 11 years since I was 11 I feel I am a responsible owner, none have ever escaped, ever I might add and unless an earthquake or another form of natural disaster happens, I cannot see them escaping either. Most escapes are caused by people thinking a tiny little baby snake needs a nice massive wooden viv, the snake gets stressed because of the massive open area, snake looks for escape route, snake escapes through cable hole or commonly through the sliding glass doors, if people did their research it wouldn't happen. While I know of the snakes species I own escaping and heard of them being realised on purpose and breeding in the Cornwall area, I am not one of them and frankly, these people are the ones that give a bad name to the hobby and would probably not look after ANY kind of animal they owned not just a reptile for example. While they do damage the local populations I believe there is talks and a new EU ;aw being talked of how to handle any alien spciecies such as the grey squirrel, insects and this would also encompass cornsnakes. Until they get their butt into gear and write it, anything being done about the issue is a grey area.

Not heard of anything really dying in the winter, I more often hear stories of escapees being lost in autumn, snake then hibernates IN the house and then owners find it in the spring. Some can hibernate inside but they are likely to choose indoors, although if they die outside as sad as it is to say, at least they are not going to damage the local wildlife in that area.

The end of the day, it's not the animals fault, it's peoples but you can't say "these shouldn't be kept as pets because of people letting them escape" as that is wrong, yes some people are idiots and will lose their pets but it shouldn't mean other responsible people should get the blame for it. It's like blaming everyone for having a dog or cat when you hear something bad happens when it was just the one of group of owners at fault. It's like people dumping their cat or dog, they shouldn't do it and that's that no matter what the animal they shouldn't let them run free if they were bought as a pet and are not native. There are plenty of forums, websites to list these animals on and forums, shops will also buy back these animals so there is no excuse.

I hope this helps into not thinking that we are all bad owners and may change your opinion a little. I love my native wildlife but I also love my pets as do so many other people, I would never mix the two! As far as I know, all snakes in Britain are protected by law and you have to have a license and are also encourages to be part of a breeding program, these snakes although native are hard to keep and I wouldn't want one as a pet because of the care involved. Because of this, it leaves no choice for people who are instrested snakes or lizards, to get non-native ones that are hardy and easier to keep and "less wild."