Wild caught snake with wounds

[count dewclaw]

I let it go...I was leaning in that direction to begin with.

Thanks for the help.

[Lori P]

I'm sure that was the right thing. James is the voice of reason, I am the voice of AwwwwwwIwannasaveallofthem. LOL!! Hopefully, he finds his way back to health. If not, I guess he becomes a meal for another critter that also needs to eat, and that's ok too.

[enigma200316]

good choice and a hard one but the right one good job and props to you.......

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I have a big heart but I honestly would have released the garter also

there is only so much we can do...

I think the hardest thing I ever had to do was two years ago I was walking on my road and i found a huge female garter snake, her entire back half totally flattened. The front half was still trying desperately to get away. I actually cried. But I put her out of her misery and I buried her. I won't go into any more detail because I am actually tearing up thinking about it

[adamanteus]

I would have cried too. But we're only human... we can only do so much.

[Thamnophis]

My opinion. Let nature take its way.There is a good chance this snake will survive.And if not, there will be other creatures that take advantage of its death.This is how it goes in the wild.

[count dewclaw]

I agree. My concern with this case was whether or not the snake could hunt if it lost its eye (I know, starvation happens in the wild, but...). James relieved my fears on that issue. Also, at what point is it more humane to put the animal out of its misery? The snake that Shannon found obviously was not going to survive, thus I think she chose the right action. Alas, life is not black and white, but too many shades of grey. I do appreciate the input I got from all of you, thanks.

[anji1971]

LeAnn, in nature you just never know what will happen. That snake may very well go on and survive for a good long time.
I saw a big(at least 3 ft.) female the other day with huge, horrendous scars, and they looked like they'd been there a long while. Whatever it was that happened to her, it looked like something that would have been quite serious when it first occurred, but she seemed to be hanging in quite well now.
I think you made a good decision here -- it's always a hard choice, though.

[Lori P]

It always amazes me, too, what animals can survive. But then, they aren't whiny like us humans!!!

[jules]

what did you finally do. its hard when they are hurt and instinct to help but its not always ethical.