FRUSTRATION... lost snake is "found"

[KITKAT]

Well, I am totally fluxxomed now!

Over a year ago, I had a gravid female eastern garter named RUBY, and a male named Sienna, who escaped their enclosure and disappeared into my basement. I spent a good bit of time searching for them, and months later, I found Sienna, who was living under the staircase. He probably had not eaten in all that time, unless he ate spiders. However, many months after that, I still could not find RUBY.

Well... here we are, almost 18 months later.

My neighbor asked me to come over and see what was lying by her front porch.

It was RUBY! She is fat and sassy, and probably gravid again!

She is living inside my neighbor's concrete front stoop... slithers in and out through a little hole that turns upwards, thus preventing any probing of the hole.

Ruby comes out about 6 inches from the hole and suns herself, but thus far we have not found her further away than that... and she is quick and I, in my 55 year old slowness, cannot move fast enough for my hand to beat her to the hole.

Yesterday I put out her old food dish with four f/t minnows in it, and this morning at around 9 AM, she was seen lying in her usual place, and the minnows gone.

AAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!

[KITKAT]

[Stefan-A]

Must be frustrating, but at least she's ok. Now all you need is a cunning plan.

[GarterGuy]

Sorry for your frustration, but it's actually kind of funny that she turned up like that and is now just living it up at the neighbors.
Roy

[Dracaena828]

Maybe you should take a book and go sit by her hold when the sun is getting warmer and wait for her to come out? That's a pretty funny story. Glad to hear she's ok.... Sounds like a pretty good self-sufficient snake!

[Snaky]

I'm just imagening you with the sprint of your life and then afterward the snake sticking his head out like "Better luck next time".

Hopefully you'll have better luck with your next plan

[stonyloam]

Hay KITKAT; I have posted this a couple of times, and it might actually work for you, especially if you know where she has to come out, and you can bait the trap. Good luck.

Create a reptile tube trap, based on a technique suggested by HSUS animal capture consultant, Dave Pauli. Inside this trap, the temperature should be just right for the snake—more appealing than the surrounding area. The trap is a piece of thin-walled PVC tubing that's 2–3 ft. long. Drill a few 1/8" air holes along the length of the tube. Cap one end. In cold weather, place a disposable hand warmer, battery-operated electric sock, or heating pad in the far end of the tube, along with some soft cotton rags. If you have fresh rodent droppings, you may want to toss a few in there, too. (In hot weather, substitute an ice pack or cold, wet rag for the heat source.) Then drill a 1" hole into a cap and use it to cover the other end of the tube. Although the snakes can leave the trap, they usually stay inside because it's more comfortable for them. You can install a one- way valve by affixing a 1 1/2" stiff plastic circle over the inside of the cap. The snake can push its way in, but can't leave easily. (This trap also works with other reptiles, such as lizards.)

[drache]

Oh, man
what can I say
congrats in finding Ruby - good luck catching her
yeah - I'd try getting up early and waiting her out

[adamanteus]

Great news that you found her. Let's hope you get your hands on her soon.

[Gyre]

At least she safe and healthy. Good luck grabbing her.