Black Rat Snake Rescue

[snakeman]

Just let the snake go. It has a better chance at survival. They are very resilient. I found a yellow rat snake in Florida that was clearly half run over at one point in its life. Save the snake some stress.

[d_virginiana]

Just let the snake go. It has a better chance at survival. They are very resilient. I found a yellow rat snake in Florida that was clearly half run over at one point in its life. Save the snake some stress.

Please explain how a snake with an infected wound and some difficulty moving stands a better chance at survival if released into an area with dogs and cats roaming around than it does if the infection is treated and the wound is allowed to heal up before it goes...

Snakes are taken from the wild and kept as pets all the time; I doubt the stress of being in captivity is going to kill it. Yes it might survive if released now, but don't pretend like getting medical treatment actually decreases the animal's chance at surviving.

[Light of Dae]

I realize that this snakes brain is about the size of a BB but do you think it knows we are trying to help it?

I think to a degree they can understand or learn that we are just helping them out. They have the capacity to see we aren't eating it or doing further harm...
I saw a huge dragonfly get caught in a spiders web last summer and I much liking dragonflies compared to spiders and having seen a decrease in the number of large dragonflies opted to save it. As I pulled it from the web it fought and fought till I had it out and started cleaning it's wings... Then it stopped fighting and just held on to my finger as I pulled at the wings and picked at it's legs... It stayed on my finger for a good 3 mins after I was done, then flew off but circled back twice right in front of my face before flying away...

I think most living creatures can realize when they are being helped... to a degree...

[Stefan-A]

I realize that this snakes brain is about the size of a BB but do you think it knows we are trying to help it?

No. I don't think that apart from a few exceptionally intelligent, social species, animals have any concept of "help".

[EKS56]

There are a couple of wounds I am really concerned with. They appear to have some infection in them. We'll keep dousing them with peroxide and neosporin. But I really don't like the looks of them.

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[guidofatherof5]

Any chance of getting some Baytril?
Enrofloxacin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[EKS56]

No. I don't think that apart from a few exceptionally intelligent, social species, animals have any concept of "help".

I have seen some humans that couldn't tell when they were being helped.

[EKS56]

I might could get the Vet to come off some Batril. Is it supposed to be good for reptiles?

[guidofatherof5]

Injectable can cause problems at the injection site.
Oral isn't near as dangerous. Talk to your Vet. able the situation. Maybe there's something better for this type of injury.
Please keep us posted on this.

[EKS56]

At what point should I offer this snake some food? I was really surprised when he drank water immediately.