A way of catching snakes to study?

[msubigdawg]

I was watching Animal Planet and on Animal Cops Miami they had a guy I think from the Everglades Outpost on there. He had to catch some cobras that had gotten loose. Now he used a method to catch one that I was wondering what other people thought about using to help catch snakes to study. He drove a rod into the ground then tied a string to it and to the other end of the string he tied bait, in this case a dead baby ball python. Then he covered the bait with a box with a little opening so the snake can get in. The snake found the bait and swallowed it and was stuck there because of the string. So the next day he came and found the snake. Now they didn't show how he removed the string. I dont know if he pulled it out or let it swallow it. I figured either way you would have to use a natural fiber string. I also figure you wouldn't catch things like rattlesnakes since they hunt with heat and the prey would be dead and not warm. But I was wondering what people thought about this as a way of catching like rat snakes or corn snakes and other snakes like that.

[CamHanna]

I've heard of Africans using a similar method with live goats to catch rock pythons.

I'm sure it would work for rat snakes but it would be unnecessarily stressful. Either the string would need to be yanked out or ‘passed’. If pulled out then the bait would likely come with it and regurges take time to recover from. If the snake is released then it may try to eat something else before it has recovered and may regurge again. You may also harm tissue while trying to pull out the string and you could damage the delicate structures in head / neck area. If the string is allowed to pass through the snake then I would worry about impaction or irritating the esophagus / stomach, possibly leading to regurges later. It’s not worth the risk to the snake IMO.

Cam

[Jeff Hathaway]

I'll agree with Cam- sounds way too stressful to justify. There are easier ways to trap snakes (cover boards, drift fences, etc.) if you need to catch significant numbers for a study. You would likely need a scientific collecting permit to do this, however, depending upon your local laws.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[JonD]

Wouldn't the digestive juices eat through the string quicky? (provided it was organic string) Then it'd be really easy to pull out in a day or two..Just a thought..
:D

[CamHanna]

This is absolute speculation but I don't believe the snakes digestive system would have any great impact on string. Cellulose is tough stuff and cotton does not significantly deteriorate in the human digestive system (never mind how I know :D). I would guess that snake digestion is geared towards proteins and lipids and would be surprised if they had the enzymes required to digest a plant based string (especially considering cotton is much tougher than normal plant matter).

Cam

[JonD]

Originally posted by CamHanna
This is absolute speculation but I don't believe the snakes digestive system would have any great impact on string. Cellulose is tough stuff and cotton does not significantly deteriorate in the human digestive system (never mind how I know :D). I would guess that snake digestion is geared towards proteins and lipids and would be surprised if they had the enzymes required to digest a plant based string (especially considering cotton is much tougher than normal plant matter).

Cam
OK, so then it'll just digest the animal that the string was attached to and then the string will be loose..:D

[CamHanna]

You've got me there:). A string running from the mouth through the intestines for a week or so would likely be a touch uncomfortable though;). I don't like the idea; too much stress.

[JonD]

I hehe I hear ya CamHanna, Not that anything I mentioned is likely, just thought it was funny..
Cheers!

[dtocher]

If the string used was animal protein based (like the string used for stitches that wont be taken out... just healed over and absorb the fiber), then once you catch the snake, just cut the string in front of it's mouth. You'd minimize the amount of string that passes through the animal, and the string that did would be easy to digest for the little guy.