Thoughts On Using Wild Caught Food?

[SWDK]

What's your opinion on using wild caught field mice and chipmunks as a food item for your snakes. They would be frozen first of course. Would the freezing kill any parasites? I haven't done this, just a thought at this point.

I feed my wild caught garter snake frogs and toads, but she's already got parasites I'm sure so I'm not worried about that.

[Andy_G]

Freezing doesn't kill everything. Not a risk I would personally take.

[macandchz]

i wouldn't risk it either. freezing and other methods of preserving things do not kill all the bacteria or parasites.

[eminart]

I feed my indigo dead on road snakes, if they're fresh. I freeze them a couple of months. I wouldn't do it with rodents. They're just too easy and cheap to buy. Snakes, on the other hand, are difficult to come by as feeders.

It's really kind of funny because I'm also a falconer. Most snake owners will freak out if you mention feeding wild prey. But, falconers, whose birds usually catch their own meals, feed almost exclusively wild caught prey. I'm not saying there's never any problems, but for the most part, it's no big deal.

[SWDK]

I understand the risks, but wanted to see what the general thought was. The reason I ask is because I live up in the mountains in a very wooded area. I trap and throw away lots of mice, chipmunks and some squirrels that get into my garage and attic. I hate wasting them and thought maybe there was a safe way to get use out of them.

[bigsnakegirl785]

There's a risk of not only parasites but also of chemical poisoning, which cannot be frozen out, and has affected quite a few wild raptor species so idk if I'd risk it with my falcons if I had any either.

If you lay the bodies outside somewhere, trust me they won't go to waste. Wild animals will eat them.

[pet_snake_78]

Take a look at studies on birds of prey, they are accumulating toxins from the irresponsible and ignorant misuse of rodentcides. I cannot verify but would assume rabbits are less likely to have such issues. If you're wanting to use a wild caught food source, I would look into them and see if they have any similar issues (for larger snakes, of course). You could also freeze the finds and donate them to a rapture rehab or something along those lines if you're reasonably sure they have not been exposed by farmers, neighbors, ranchers (hard to do in this day and age).

[david26]

What about bunnys?.. Have never thought about it till I seen this post but we hunt rabbit on my property all the time and we make stew , grave and my grandpa used to make a killer breakfast sausage out of em for us to eat, given we gut skin and cook em. but could they be safe for a reptile? What about the pelets from the shot could that be harmfull it self?..
I prob wouldnt risk it either, I have a local breeder within 16 miles of my house but strange to think I will eat somthin and feed my kids somthing I wouldnt feed my snake😄

[Aaron_S]

I feed my indigo dead on road snakes, if they're fresh. I freeze them a couple of months. I wouldn't do it with rodents. They're just too easy and cheap to buy. Snakes, on the other hand, are difficult to come by as feeders.

It's really kind of funny because I'm also a falconer. Most snake owners will freak out if you mention feeding wild prey. But, falconers, whose birds usually catch their own meals, feed almost exclusively wild caught prey. I'm not saying there's never any problems, but for the most part, it's no big deal.

Find decent sized ball python breeders. I GUARANTEE you will be get snakes. Price up here is about $3/snake.

I can't get rid of my normals fast enough to indigo keepers.