Please Help, lawnmower injury

[0TG]

A couple of hours ago I was mowing the lawn and hit an adult Garter snake. When I realized he was there it was too late to do anything about it. The blades ended up cutting the last four or five inches of his tail off. I had no choice but to decapitate him. I felt horrible.

But today I'm really batting a thousand. Not two hours after I hit the first one I hit a second one. This time a baby one, I'm guessing he just hatched this year.

After I saw that I hit him, I picked him up to inspect his injuries. I don't think it goes down into his guts, but it's a a decent gash, probably about the size of a dime and relatively deep, but like I said I don't see any organs or anything like that.

What can I do to help this snake? Can I cleanse the wound with hydrogen peroxide and then apply neosporin with a q-tip?

Does this snake have a chance or should I decapitate this one too? I'm familiar with snake care although I've never kept a garter snake before. I really want to help this guy out and would love to nurse him back to health. I'm assuming at such young age insects make up most of their diets.

If anyone can share any experiences with me or offer any advice I'd truly appreciate it it. I don't want this guy to die. Thanks.

[adamanteus]

Hi Nick. Sorry to hear about your accident, but at least you want to help the poor thing. It's difficult to say much about the injury without seeing it, but I would avoid the peroxide. Neosporin sounds like a good idea though. For now I wouldn't worry too much about feeding, the trauma of the injury and capture will most likely put it off eating for a while. Get him secure and warm, provide water and a hide and leave him in peace for a couple of days to see how he goes on. Just keep him really clean and treat the wound as you suggested.

[CrazyHedgehog]

If you do try to feed him though, he won't eat insects, try nightcrawlers..

[0TG]

Thank you for the quick reply.

Right now I have him in a 10 gallon tank with some bark and some small, leafy weeds as a hide.

I'm going to have to to take him out though, because the tank I have him in has been sitting outside for months and it's too dirty to bring in the house. I will try to snap a few shots of his injury when I clean the tank out. Can I use dirt as a substrate? Or should I use newspaper or papertowels?

[adamanteus]

Cleaning the tank thoroughly is a good idea, because of the injury. Also I would consider using kitchen paper towels or newspaper as a substrate until the wound heals. Infection could get in there pretty easily. This is also why I wouldn't try feeding him just yet....you don't want nightcrawlers getting dirt/slime in that wound. A clean plant pot or the middle out of a toilet roll might make a more hygenic hide for now.

[0TG]

Excellent advice, I appreciate it greatly.

I'm gonna go try and snap some pics. I'll post them within a half an hour.

[adamanteus]

No problem. Hygiene is the key here, I think.

You may find you can't drop a picture into the thread just yet, not until you've posted a couple more times. It's the forums automatic anti-spam defenses!

[0TG]

Will I be able to send them to you via PM?

[adamanteus]

See if you can upload them yet, Nick. If you can upload, you can post.
Guide to posting pictures.

[LushLulu85]

hi Nick i am so sorry to hear about the accident. i know james has given you some excelent advise so i wont interupt but i hope it all works out and he can pull through. cant wait to see these pics though xxx