releasing baby ribbons far from original habitat?

[gellfex]

We collected an eastern ribbon 3 weeks ago in the Catskill mountain area, 2 hrs from home. It finally ate last week, today it had babies. Not what I signed on for! It's hard to believe a snake that slim was gravid.

Among the release options (unless someone near Jersey City wants them) are local freshwater ponds in Hudson County NJ. They're urban but with a fair amount of habitat. Or I can take them this weekend to Long island NY and release them in the Peconic River wild area near Riverhead. While the Ribbon is considered indigenous to both areas, I have no idea of the odds of a population in either location.

Also, should I consider releasing the mother also and keeping several babies who might tame better than a wild snake?

Boy, it's never simple!

[infernalis]

Please do not take offense, but releasing any species anywhere except where it belongs is considered a big no no.

We never really tame a snake, they train us to accept them.

My baby ribbons are holy terrorists....

[gellfex]

Please do not take offense, but releasing any species anywhere except where it belongs is considered a big no no.

We never really tame a snake, they train us to accept them.

My baby ribbons are holy terrorists....

Any baby ribbon care tips to share? They're pretty thin here as far as searching has shown. It seems like little fish chunks is the way since they're unlikely to take little worms.

As for release, I wouldn't dream of releasing a non-native species, but that isn't the case here. My googling has shown they're native to all of NJ and LI. I just don't know that there's an existing population in those locations I mentioned. Do you define "belongs" only in the exact location of collection?

[infernalis]

I know a lot of people say its a big deal, but ribbons will start easily on small feeder fish, I place mine in a Small sandwich box with the fish flopping about in there, no water..

Due to availability, Rosie reds are the simplest, not for long term diet, but for starter food, they are a perfect size for babies. You would ween them off rosies before any ill effects would even be noticed.

Click the lid shut and wait, They will probably try and bite, it's harmless, and to me quite funny, especially when your fingers smell of fish

The problem with your release strategy is that if in fact no colony exists, you could possibly introduce one, or worse yet discover that the reason that no colony exists is lack of adequate food supply, or a predator higher up the food chain. Many variables exist.

So in all honesty the prognosis for those released babies would be grim.

There are places that can help you find homes for the baby snakes, look up your local Herp society, Offer them to forum members

Please do NOT put a free snake ad in the paper, That would be worse than dumping them on the ground.

[gellfex]

Thanks Wayne,

I would be happy to let any snake fancier have them, but I don't want to start shipping them around. It doesn't look like the classifieds here get much use either.

I understand your concerns about the release, but frankly it doesn't seem ecologically unsound, maybe just bad for the snakes. In fact, some of these urban ponds might need a little reintroduction of native species. Some areas are industrial zones recovering after being turned into parks, and 1 nearby pond is a 15 acre walled reservoir that had been abandoned 20 years and gone fallow, only now being rediscovered as an urban nature preserve full of sunfish, bass and wildlife. Maybe they NEED some ribbons to balance the little ecology there!

All I'm saying is it's not like releasing the boas in the everglades or red eared sliders everywhere. They do belong here, but may be absent due to past human pressure. But snakes are resilient. My son's school sits on a redeveloped industrial brownfield. He discovered a garter that had made it's home in a 3 foot strip of greenery between 2 fences. Every recess he would check on him. That snake would be out sunning even in December if the temps got above 50! Who knows what he'd find to eat then.

[infernalis]

Sounds like you had already made your choice...

[Stefan-A]

I agree, Wayne.

[infernalis]

Thanks Stefan.

Personally, I would drive back to where they originated from.

[Odie]

If you need a home for two of them
Please let me know I will pay for the shipping

[gellfex]

Thanks Stefan.

Personally, I would drive back to where they originated from.

Really? Easy for you to say. A 4 hr round trip at today's gas prices rather than release snakes in their indigenous area?

There's only 7 of them. Maybe I'll find them homes anyway. Perhaps we should be keeping a couple of babies and releasing the mother to end up with tamer pets.