2011 Ranch Rescues

[guidofatherof5]

Got a call tonight to pickup an unwanted garter snake.
When I got there I found a near adult female T. radix.
She's has her share of scares and abrasions. I'll post a picture tomorrow.

[guidofatherof5]

Here she is.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/rescue2011_1.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/rescue2011_1a.jpg

[RdubSnider]

Hey buddy. She's not to bad looking in. The picture. Does she seem to be in good health?

[guidofatherof5]

She appears fine. Got her warming up right now.
I'll give her a good check over in the morning.

[gregmonsta]

She couldn't be in a better place ;)

[RedSidedSPR]

She couldn't be in a better place ;)

Nope.

[guidofatherof5]

I've got a strange rescue for you.

Last night the Ranch had visitors.
While the guests and I were looking at some of the awesome snakes, my daughter Hailee came down stairs. As she came though the small snake room she stopped at the entrance to the room I was in. She looked down on the floor and said "Dad, snake"
I told her to grab it but she said she couldn't. I didn't understand and to be honest was a little mad at her. I left my guests and headed towards her.
Just behind the floor fan I found my missing Black Mexican King snake and he wasn't alone. He was constricting and swallowing a medium size wild radix that had gotten into the basement.
I grabbed the King snake and he immediately released and regurgitated the radix. The male radix was still alive and seemed stunned.
This morning I checked on the male. He was alert and hungry. He will probably be staying on the Ranch.
He's on lucky boy.

[Spankenstyne]

Hah nice find and good timing with the mexi black. Got lucky it hadn't killed the radix first. Win-win!

[RedSidedSPR]

Haha that's pretty good. How far down was the radix?

[guidofatherof5]

About 5 inches.

[RedSidedSPR]

Wow.

[guidofatherof5]

The male radix seems back to normal. No worse for the wear from his near death experience.
Ate two night crawlers this morning.

[ConcinusMan]

Holy crud. I didn't even know your king was missing. Sneaky one isn't he? Always seems to get ahold of a radix when you're not looking, and escapes too? Bound determined to chow down on radixes one way or another.

[drache]

wow - that was a close one
glad you found your king, and glad the radix is doing fine

[guidofatherof5]

Got a phone call this evening. The lady on the phone told me she had some big snakes out in front of her house and she wanted them gone, or else.
It was only a 10 minute drive so I headed her direction.
Once there she told me they were up by her front door and that she won't go back in the house until they leave or they're dead.
I checked the yard and didn't find any snakes. I then went to the front door. Laying across the front door on the ground was a piece of down spout.
What a perfect hide for a garter snake. When I picked it up I knew there were snakes inside. It was good and heavy.
Looking inside I saw a gravid female. When I poured her out her roommate came out with her. Another gravid female.
Both are in great shape and will be released in my backyard.
In another month or so I'll have two nice groups of babies born.
The second photo is the release in the backyard. I have a large pile of cherry wood stacked by a tree. this should be a good area for them both to have their babies.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/rescue2011b1.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/rescue2011c.jpg

[Mommy2many]

Nice save!

[guidofatherof5]

Looks like the last of the babies was born this morning on the Ranch.
A nice T.radix was delivered in a bag to my front door a month ago. It was one of those ring the doorbell and go things. I'm glad for that otherwise she would have sat in the heat and probably died.
I haven't done a head count yet but I'm guessing around 15.
All nice normal phase radixes.
They are in a warm bath to finish their first shed. I'll post a photo later today.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

So how often do you take snakes or rescue them and bring them to your Ranch ?

[guidofatherof5]

This year I've had far less brought to me. I've gone out on less rescue calls also.
Not sure what's going on other than the flood worries. People probably have more to worry about then garter snakes.

[katach]

Congrats on the new additions Steve!! They are so luck to have you!

[Mommy2many]

Congratulations! More squiggles!!!

[guidofatherof5]

The end of the birthing season is over. I hope.

[Mommy2many]

Can't wait to see what's in store for next spring!!!

[guidofatherof5]

I was hoping it would be "Rest":D

[Mommy2many]

No, no no...it's next, next next!!!