Baiting snakes

[Sid]

Yea, keeping us in suspense this time. Seriously, looking forward to the update Terry.

Sid

[stonyloam]

Ladybug update: We have sliding glass doors in the sunroom (you can see where this is going already). This morning was the nicest in about two weeks, so I was expecting to see snakes (at least indoors if not out). Saw a couple of heads sticking out, but nothing much going on, so I went out to clean the leaves off of the pool cover. After about an hour I came in (through the sliding glass door) being very careful and looking for ladybug (the first time I saw her she was wedged into a space near the doorjamb). OK no snake, so as I started to close the door all of a sudden I saw tiny brown rings moving along inside the door track between the door and the aluminum guide awwwww S%$#!!! Then she disappeared under the door! OK the door is half open and I can’t close it for fear of cutting her in half with the guide wheels (then I would have to make up some story for James, like uhhh “she ran away”). I decide to take the door off to get her out, so got the electric drill and started to remove the half dozen screws that hold the upper door guide in place. Got them all out and tried to remove the door gently—gently WHAT THE……It won’t move! Seems like over the years the upper frame had warped slightly and the top of the door had worn a groove in the frame holding it in place. In order to remove it I had to close it about a foot. So I very slowly started to close the door and after moving it about a foot, guess what? The snake came out. Great, so I started to reach down for her and the door fell out and I had to catch it. What now, I couldn’t move the door back because she was there. Finally I tapped my foot behind her and she moved, jammed the door back in place and caught her. Way too exciting! She was not happy! You know that web of skin between you thumb and finger, well she latched on pretty good. You wouldn’t think a bite from a snake that small could hurt. Think again! Finally got to look at her tail. She does have a small wound and some unshed skin. She can shake it pretty good (milk snakes shake their tails like a rattler, pretty intimidating) so I think it will be OK. I got my tweezers and cleaned it up a little, then decided any more would do more harm than good. So I just put a little Neosporin on it and am temporarily housing her in a 15 gal aquarium we keep for rescuing tadpoles off of the pool cover, (another story). Tried to feed her, but that turns out to be another kinda funny story I’ll tell you about in my next post. When the weather gets a little better I will probably relocate her to the woodpile, so I won’t have to worry about the door. With her attitude she should be just fine. Kind of a long story but it is all true I swear.

[Cazador]

What an ordeal, but it sure beats the alternative(s). You're developing quite a relationship with that little ladybug. I wouldn't be surprised to see her lose that part of her tail. She may not, though, if you keep the Neosporin on it, and if you've cleaned all the old skin off.

Rick

[adamanteus]

I was scared of reading that post Terry....I thought the outcome was going to bad! Hats off to you (again), removing the door etc. not many people would go to such lengths. What luck that you saw her moving though.

I agree with Rick, that tail wound looks quite nasty, Ladybug may well lose the tip of her tail. Getting the skin off might help.

[drache]

what a story
I'd also been scared of the outcome
I'm glad you're taking care of the little snake
with some luck she may even keep her tail

[mikm]

great story Terry ... I would have quickly become obsessed with getting that door off as well ...

enjoy your day ...
marian

[stonyloam]

Ladybug update: I have been keeping Neosporin on her tail for the last 3 days, and she seems healthy. She has not eaten, or drank much, so I think captivity does not agree with her. It looks like we are having a good stretch of weather so am planning to release her this PM. I picked out a nice spot neat the woodpile, plenty of mouse holes and shelter. Wish her good luck!

[adamanteus]

It sounds like Ladybug will have a nice home in your yard, Terry. Were you able to get the skin off the tail before you released her?

[stonyloam]

I'll have one last "Ladybug" update coming later, looks like a happy tail.

[stonyloam]

“Ladybug Ladybug fly away home”: Pre release update. I was beginning to wonder if the coloration of her tail was caused by necrosis and the tail was in fact dead. It felt kind of stiff so I was a little worried. So thought I would give it one more shot to see what was going on. I smeared the Neosporin all over the tail to see if it would soften the unshed skin if that was the problem. I needed to see what was going on, so got out the 10X magnifier and took a look (her tail is only 2mm thick at that point). Still pretty hard to tell so I decided what the heck, and scraped the tail with my fingernail (if you have looked at the photos you can see that my fingers are not exactly precision instruments). Lo and behold it looked like some of the skin started to loosen. Worked on it fro a few minutes and all of the old skin came off leaving beautiful fresh skin behind. The tail was soft and flexible and the wound , though nasty looking has scabbed over pretty nicely and I think she will be OK. You all were right (start patting yourselves on the back) there was a layer of unshed skin there. The last photo is her heading to her new home, she moved pretty fast and I didn’t get a very good photo (stupid autofocus). I’ll let you know if I see her again.