What would you do if one escaped?

[tHeGiNo]

Well while frequenting this forum lately, I have begun to understand the dangers in keeping hots. Primarily, preventing them from escaping. Therefore, it has come to question what would YOU do if a snake were to escape. As BWSmith always says you can be 'safer' with hots, but there is never the factor of being 'safe.' I forgot to mention I think this is such a good question for me to ask (for myself to understand) because of course, it is not like an escaped corn snake where you can throw everything up and check for the snake, as of course a bite from a venomous is something to worry about. Lets also suppose this is the most venomous snake in your collection.

[Gregg M]

Well if kept right an escaped hot will no be able to get out of the hot room....... Enough said.....

[tHeGiNo]

Really good point, I never thought of it that way.

[unBOAlievable]

If kept right you will not have an escaped hot...but since I am only human I also have double screened all windows and air ducts, caulked all moldings, secured all drains with stainless covers and made a glass entry into the building so if any have learned to pick locks and lift the secure pins, They can't shoot out the door.

[reverendsterlin]

first I have to unlock the room, then I have to unlock and open the cage and unless I'm putting a pair together I only have one cage open at a time and it would be hard not to remember I have a hot out(that could be fatal lol), the ducts have 1/4 inch mesh (can't lose the babies either) and the door seals really well

[tHeGiNo]

Cool, so basically a responsible hot owner doesn't have to worry about an escaped snake.

[reverendsterlin]

generally not escape from the room, but escape from the hook or snagging the side of the feeding tub and popping out when your trying to put them in it lol

[tHeGiNo]

Ah yes, but at least then you know where the snake is and where he went.

[BWSmith]

Yep, with proper caging and hot room precautions, the chance of an escape can be all but eliminated.

[Mustangrde1]

In the event of an escape I have an Anti-Venomous snake collector to do the dangerous work. Let me introduce you to spanky all 7 foot 3 inches of him.. He preffers 10 RATS or 25 mice in payment for his services for desert .. lol had to play around a little.

[tHeGiNo]

WOW what a tanker! What species is that?

[Mustangrde1]

Nile Monitor. He is a 4 year old now. Lot of time getting him that docile.deffinately not an animal for any novice.Took me many years to learn monitors and their many behaviors and still i am suprised at the new tricks they throw in to the equation.

[BWSmith]

Yeah, but who is the big hillbilly holding him? LOL j/k bro.

[reverendsterlin]

lol, beat me to it BW, I was noticing that pronounced shoulder slope from walking the hillsides lol j/k

[Mustangrde1]

Hmmm Now listen I know i am no hillbilly for as a transplant to Florida I am afeared of 4 words { HEY BUBBA WATCH THIS} them there words scareses me lol

[SCReptiles]

Escape prevention is what I preach. I encourage everyone to double cage venomous snakes whenever possible. A lot of my colleagues preach that keeper envenomation leads to new legislation, but I don’t know of one confirmed case of that, however, I know of two confirmed cases of escaped venomous snakes leading to public outcry and a change in state law. In 1991 the state of TN outlawed the keeping of all venomous snakes after public outcry steaming from some escaped cobras in Ooltewah, TN. In 2001 the state of AL outlawed the keeping of all exotic venomous snakes after public outcry steaming from an escape in Huntsville, AL. The species evolved is unclear. I have heard it was only a copperhead and the legislator pushing for the ban asked what if it was a mamba. I spoke directly with AL DNR after the law change to make sure we were not selling anything illegal and the gentleman in the DNR office told me for certain there was an escaped mamba in Huntsville and that lead to the new law. That is all I know on that matter. Regardless of the snake, it was an escape that lead to the law! Now, as for your question that no one is really answering. If we have an escape, the first thing we do is call in all the other venomous keepers in the area and we find it. Use your own home as a starting point and then work out from there. The responsible thing to do is warn the neighbors. If it’s an indigenous snake, the concern is not as great. Any local hospital should be able to treat an envenomation. If in deed we talking about an exotic such as a mamba, the hospital will have no idea what type of snake they are dealing with. Specialized anti-venom is needed in this case and it will probably have to be flown from the Dade County anti-venom bank in Miami. (Emergency phone 305.596.8576) To date, there has not been one reported case of an escaped venomous snake biting a third party. The nature of the beast is to avoid people, so if the snake is not apprehended, chances are it has made its way far from people. In most cases the animal will not last long in the wild. The food resources are different and the climate in many places in North American is intolerable. I hope that answers your question.

[tHeGiNo]

Great, thanks. I was just curious, and also wanted to see how many people acutally HAD a plan.

[fatboy]

The more I look into this site the more I love it. I am new getting into the hots and loved reading this. Thank you.