Warning, snake at large!!!

[Serpico]

Well, after years and years of reptile husbandry, the laws of statistics dictated that one snake would escape my terrarium (especially if my son forgets the sliding glass open).

It is not a garter who escaped, but the much more elusive, shy, fast, bad tempered "hierophis viridiflavus" ...a young one, less than two feet long, drab olive color except the black and yellow pattern over its head.

Now he is at large in my son's room, probably behind some shelf, hiding in fear...shivering (the autumn season is setting in, but the heating system is not yet ON)... and we moved everything, but failed to locate it. My wife is muttering threats and bad words......I am full of dust to the elbows, my son is whining....

Any advice is very welcomed, thanks!!

Pg & son

[Serpico]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yjgUBmsSvk

Just to make clear what we are talking about...

[Stefan-A]

Keep looking.

[kibakiba]

Look along the walls, or in dark and warm areas.

Also, don't look in just one room, snakes travel fast and can get to other rooms very quickly.

[guidofatherof5]

Set up a warm area for it to use. They are attracted to these areas.
Wild or escaped snakes usually endup by the freezer compressor in my snake room.

[ConcinusMan]

Often times my escapee's would show up in the kitchen covered in dust bunnies. It's warm underneath and behind that refrigerator. (like steve was saying) Other favorite places are near a water heater, underneath a gas oven with a burning pilot, etc.

Escapee's nearly always follow the walls and will hide under furnature placed along the wall, or they will slip under closet doors as they follow the wall and hide out there for a while.

Every time I've given up looking for them, and then I suddenly find them, they usually come out of a closet, or out from under the fridge or stove.

[Serpico]

I am concerned, how long a snake can live without drinking? He is an extremely shy animal, moves during the day and sleeps at night, and I fear for his life.
BTW, I have told my wife that he would rarely move from my son's room...

[katach]

When my snake got out I put a heating pad on low on the floor with a little bowl of water next to it.

[guidofatherof5]

Dehydration will kill them long before starvation.
Much depends on the temps and how active the snake is.
Can't really give you a set time. Too many variables.

[d_virginiana]

Yup, pretty much what everyone else is saying. Heat pat, water dish, and just keep looking. Also, try sitting a small dish of milk out. I know a lot of people who use it to catch wild snakes that wander into their houses. I think maybe the smell makes them curious.

Hope you find him!