Rescue Radix not eating

[GarterNewb]

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Hi all. Sorry for my long absence from the forum. I want to thank you all for the help, and I have one last request: advice on where to set Max(ine) free. (S)he was found about 1/4 mile from the mississippi river in a relatively urban area. Would (s)he be best off in that possibly familiar area, or should I take her to a less populated area? There are more wooded areas along the river that may be more suitable. Max is stronger and larger, (eating a fuzzy in the pic above) but seems less content in the cage or being handled than when we first met. It may be that feeding in the cage has led to an attack reaction when I reach in, but max seems to hide more as well. This is irrelevant, as my plan has always been to release max, and spring has finally arrived in MN. Any and all advice, speculation would be greatly appreciated.

[jwolfe152]

This is just an opinion and may be the wrong thing to do but i always release them into a wooded/grassy area over an urban area. Ai said that's just my opinion and I'm not sure how familiarity with an area would help or not

[guidofatherof5]

Apparently, Max was doing well in the area you found him/her. Our (yours, mine) opinion of a better living area may be completely wrong. The snakes for the most part knows better then we ever will.
Just my opinion.

[joeysgreen]

I do not recommend releasing him. Most definitely if you have other herptile pets. This snake has spent the winter eating captive produced food, exposed to the pathogens of captivity, and now poses a significant danger to his native population. Many diseases are sweeping our native species in epidemic proportions. You probably have already heard of chytrid disease in amphibians, but there is also a snake fungus disease that's decimating tonnes of locations. The most dangerous diseases most certainly are those we don't yet understand.

In any instance of release, following short term capture, the animal should be released to as close to where found as possible.

Ian

[GarterNewb]

Thanks, Ian. That is a compelling consideration, as my original goal was for the snakes well being, I certainly wouldn't want to jeopardize an entire population. Here a are a few more deets. Ive had the snake just over two months, have no other pets in the house. Max has been fed from two sources: a single box of 18 nightcrawlers from Petco, and frozen pinkies, and then a frozen fuzzy, also from Petco. The snake appears to be larger and stronger every day. I believe the risk to be minimal due to these circumstances, but would really like some more info if you have it. I could probably find a new home instead of releasing him, but release would be my preferred outcome.

Jon

[joeysgreen]

Unfortunately, the problem, again, is risk management because we don't know what or if, your snake is carrying anything. It sounds like your snake is quite low risk, but for instance, where did those night crawlers originate? Many are farmed/harvested from out East, coincidently in the heart of snake fungus country. Did they bring it in with them? Can the fungus live in/on the dirt that they were brought in on? We just don't know. What we do know is that it affects snakes as they are brumating; too cold to fight back with a healthy immune system. Snakes are literally waking up with half their faces eaten away.

There are countless potential diseases, but below is a webinar that everyone might find interesting.

“Snake Fungal Disease in the Eastern United States”, presented by: Dr. Jeffrey M. Lorch, Research Associate, Department of Pathobiological Sciences,
School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

See link below… for now, it is the second presentation on the list (in time, it will get pushed down the list, so you’ll have to browse for it). The link below doesn’t bring it up automatically… look to the list of talks.

http://nctc.fws.gov/topic/online-training/webinars/conservation-science.html

Ian