Finding Wild Snakes

[StuDude]

I really do like snakes, and I want a Corn snake, but my parents say I cant buy one. the only snakes I'm allowed to have are the ones I find in the wild. I know some of you people are against keeping wild snakes, but I REALLY want a corn snake. Any ideas of how and where to catch one?

[youngster]

Why can't you buy one? Corn snakes are only like $20.

And that $20 goes a long way you don't have to worry about parasites or infections etc.

You could probably even find a free one on Craiglist fairly easy.

[Valvaren]

:\ Dude leave the wild snake where they are and wait till you can buy a CB.

I know people say it wont hurt the environment if one person does it but imagine all the people out there and all the people that think that way. Can you imagine the stress on an animal being plucked from its home and shoved somewhere new, its not fair.

Wait till you can buy one, or learn more and educate your parents so you can buy one. Better for you, better for the wild snake and better for the CB snake, You get a healthy snake, the wild snake gets to stay in its home and the CB snake gets to get a home.

[Jenn_06]

Look on Craigslist I seen a ton of corn snakes are there from our area or you can wait for a show to come to NC. There is one in Raleigh in May.

[Lankyrob]

^^^^^^What he said^^^^^^^^

[alessia55]

People are always looking to rehome CB corns... like this one in your area: Beautiful amelanistic corn snake (http://fayetteville.craigslist.org/pet/2835997391.html)

[millertime89]

don't keep a wild snake that you catch. They're full of parasites, can be testy and defensive and may never learn to accept you as a constant part of their world, they may not take to being fed in captivity, and it may even be illegal. See if you can find someone somewhat local to you that is trying to rehome their corn for free.

[BarelyBreathing]

You can buy a normal corn snake hatchling for three to eight dollars... Just go to an expo.

[alessia55]

Yup, normal corns go for as little as $5 at the expos I go to... and you'll get one that's parasite-free, etc etc, that you can raise from the start... definitely worth it

[StuDude]

That isnt answering my question...

[StuDude]

My parents wont let me buy one it doesnt matter the cost

[StuDude]

I just want to know where to find one in the wild, ok?!.!?

[alessia55]

We recently started a thread about field herping aka finding snakes in the wild:
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/field-herping/90952-field-herping-post-your-tips-trade-experiences-here.html
You can check out the videos "Herping with Dylan" by the YouTube user "Reebbo" for some tips too.

[Gungirl]

Google is your friend.

Corn snake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_snake)

this is just one, search it and you will find more info also.

[Bradyloach]

I just want to know where to find one in the wild, ok?!.!?

hmm ok that was kind of rude

[alessia55]

My parents wont let me buy one it doesnt matter the cost

You could also go buy one for $5 and just tell your parents you found it. Again, buying one will mean it'll be free of parasites, etc etc. Well worth it in my opinion.

[jaleely]

it's okay bradyloach, i don't think he meant it rude, he's just exasperated. I mean he did say that he knew people wouldn't like the question, and that despite that, he still wanted an answer to it.
A couple people did give him an answer now though, so it should be okay : )
Words always seem harsher on the net.

as a third option, OP you could "find" a snake on craigslist or at the pound, and get a ride there to pick it up...and then when your parents ask, you say the truth...you found it!! just don't tell them you paid for it, too *lol*

[millertime89]

as a third option, OP you could "find" a snake on craigslist or at the pound, and get a ride there to pick it up...and then when your parents ask, you say the truth...you found it!! just don't tell them you paid for it, too *lol*

that's what I was getting at.

[red ink]

I really do like snakes, and I want a Corn snake, but my parents say I cant buy one. the only snakes I'm allowed to have are the ones I find in the wild. I know some of you people are against keeping wild snakes, but I REALLY want a corn snake. Any ideas of how and where to catch one?

How much experience do you have in settling wild caught specimens into captivity?

[Shmoges]

If he doesn't have any idea where to find a wild snake I'd say he needs to spend more time outside..

[KORBIN5895]

I seriously can't believe you guys are suggesting he lies to his parents...... you are really being terrible examples.

@Shmoges
Not too many snakes in the middle of the city.

[infernalis]

I seriously can't believe you guys are suggesting he lies to his parents...... you are really being terrible examples..


^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^:(^^^^^^^^^

[millertime89]

And capturing a wild animal that has the potential to be nothing but a ton of problems in captivity simply because his parents don't want him to spend money on a pet is any better?
I think we can all agree that the best course of action would be for him to show his parents the advantages of a CBB animal vs a WC one, but as we've seen before, people don't like being shown they're wrong.

[KORBIN5895]

And capturing a wild animal that has the potential to be nothing but a ton of problems in captivity simply because his parents don't want him to spend money on a pet is any better?.

Yes it is. Lying over something so stupid would really screw him over. He has 11 siblings someone is bound to tell on him. Obedience to his parents will earn him more freedom and trust.

Please don't try and justify what you guys suggested because as a parent I find it highly disrespectful. If this was my child I wouldn't allow them back on here if I saw this. This isn't the first time I have seen us give our younger members inappropriate advice about their parents. I can provide links if necessary.

[Brently]

Has anyone including you studude considered perhaps you may need to wait to get the snake you want. If your parents are putting up barriers to stop you from getting a snake why compromise and get an animal that in the future you may not be happy with. I had to wait to get my snake as my parents wouldn't have it, then the military got in the way and I didn't have the time. But now I have a beautiful snake and am very happy with it. Maybe you need to accept that now is not your time...

[KORBIN5895]

Has anyone including you studude considered perhaps you may need to wait to get the snake you want. If your parents are putting up barriers to stop you from getting a snake why compromise and get an animal that in the future you may not be happy with. I had to wait to get my snake as my parents wouldn't have it, then the military got in the way and I didn't have the time. But now I have a beautiful snake and am very happy with it. Maybe you need to accept that now is not your time...

This is pretty solid advice.

[SnakeyJay]

I waited untill I was 21/22 to get my first corn as my dad wouldn't allow me to have any... You shouldn't lie to your parents but at the same time it's wrong to all of a sudden start collecting wild specimens to keep just because you've found one already..

[millertime89]

Yes it is. Lying over something so stupid would really screw him over. He has 11 siblings someone is bound to tell on him. Obedience to his parents will earn him more freedom and trust.

Please don't try and justify what you guys suggested because as a parent I find it highly disrespectful. If this was my child I wouldn't allow them back on here if I saw this. This isn't the first time I have seen us give our younger members inappropriate advice about their parents. I can provide links if necessary.

I missed the part about 11 siblings, in the noob post?
I won't justify or give excuses, I stand by what I said. I'm also familiar with the previous instances of this.

I was 22 before I got my first snake as well.

[KORBIN5895]

I missed the part about 11 siblings, in the noob post?
I won't justify or give excuses, I stand by what I said. I'm also familiar with the previous instances of this.

I was 22 before I got my first snake as well.

May I ask what part you stand by?

[millertime89]

that its better to get a CBB snake and try and pass it off as a WC than to actually get a WC one.

[KORBIN5895]

Sorry but I can not encourage a child to lie to his parents. :(

No matter how you slice it all comes down to a lie. Then he has to live that lie until he confesses or gets found out. The what are his consequences? I would get rid of the snake and all of his privileges myself.

I am really saddened, disgusted and disappointed in those saying he should lie. Encouraging some one to lie is just as bad as lying. How many of us have stated we hate liars? Yet we encourage it. Sorry but that ball don't bounce in my court.

[alessia55]

that its better to get a CBB snake and try and pass it off as a WC than to actually get a WC one.

Ditto. and for the cost of $5 for a CBB corn, I still think it's worth the small "bending of the truth."
Ideally, don't get a snake if your parents are sticklers and don't want you to spend $5-10 on a CBB one. By the way, why are they so opposed to you spending $5-10 of your own money if you would get a wild snake anyway? What about talking to your parents about the consequences of wild caught snakes vs the benefits of captive bred snakes? Maybe they'll understand how the small cost of a CBB snake is well worthwhile.

[Lankyrob]

Sorry but I can not encourage a child to lie to his parents. :(

No matter how you slice it all comes down to a lie. Then he has to live that lie until he confesses or gets found out. The what are his consequences? I would get rid of the snake and all of his privileges myself.

I am really saddened, disgusted and disappointed in those saying he should lie. Encouraging some one to lie is just as bad as lying. How many of us have stated we hate liars? Yet we encourage it. Sorry but that ball don't bounce in my court.


10000000000000000% agree. If you cant get a snake because your parents say no then the answer is no. Educate them over time that A) you are responsible enough to keep one (lying is not responsible) and B) that snakes are great pets to keep.

An animal that you wait for and work for will mean much more to you than one that you have had to lie to get.

[StuDude]

How much experience do you have in settling wild caught specimens into captivity?

Some. From the wild, I've caught box turtles, snapping turtles, other small snakes and two mice. I didnt keep the for more than a few hours, seeing that they're mammals.

[StuDude]

Ditto. and for the cost of $5 for a CBB corn, I still think it's worth the small "bending of the truth."
Ideally, don't get a snake if your parents are sticklers and don't want you to spend $5-10 on a CBB one. By the way, why are they so opposed to you spending $5-10 of your own money if you would get a wild snake anyway? What about talking to your parents about the consequences of wild caught snakes vs the benefits of captive bred snakes? Maybe they'll understand how the small cost of a CBB snake is well worthwhile.

I told you guys already, ITS NOT ABOUT THE MONEY. My mom thinks I wont be able to catch a wild one, so those are the rules. when I DO catch one, she doesn't mind because it almost never happens. I just want to know how to catch one

P.S. when I was younger, one of my sisters kept a WILD CAUGHT rough green snake for a while. IT WAS AWESOME!

[KORBIN5895]

Some. From the wild, I've caught box turtles, snapping turtles, other small snakes and two mice. I didnt keep the for more than a few hours, seeing that they're mammals.

This is how I started out in herps. I had 23 wc turtles at one point.

[alessia55]

Still don't understand it :rolleyes: but here is a post I made on the first page to help you find one. You can also google and find out where corn snakes can be found in the wild.

We recently started a thread about field herping aka finding snakes in the wild:
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/field-herping/90952-field-herping-post-your-tips-trade-experiences-here.html
You can check out the videos "Herping with Dylan" by the YouTube user "Reebbo" for some tips too.

[youngster]

Since your parents obviously don't want you to have snakes I would say wait until they do and teach them in the meantime.

However that's not what you're asking for so, if you're dead set on finding a wild snakes I would try in old tree stumps, under sheet metal, wood, etc. that's lying flat on the ground.

If you have a wood stove snakes like to hang out in stacks of firewood. Also corn snakes love to hide in big grassy fields or corn fields.

Try to get in the mindset of a snake, "if I were a snake where would I hide?"

(I only have experience with thamnophis, nerodia, and storeria species so this stuff might not apply to corns but it's worth a try.)

[KORBIN5895]

Mulch piles are snake magnets.

[infernalis]

flat things on the ground...

[StuDude]

Thanks, guys! I'm off to the woods!

And not going to lie, or even bend the truth or anything like that.

[KORBIN5895]

Good luck!

[MoreliAddict]

good luck!

post pics if you find anything and we'll help you identify

[Jenn_06]

Well before you go out and turn over every rock and log out in the woods we do have venomous snakes here in North Carolina like Eastern Coral Snakes, Copperheads, Cottonmouths, Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnakes, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes and Timber Rattlesnakes. So never overturn anything with your hands or feet you need to get a snake hook.

[alessia55]

Well before you go out and turn over every rock and log out in the woods we do have venomous snakes here in North Carolina like Eastern Coral Snakes, Copperheads, Cottonmouths, Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnakes, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes and Timber Rattlesnakes. So never overturn anything with your hands or feet you need to get a snake hook.

Very, very sound advice. ;)

[youngster]

I forgot about that :p
Definitely a good idea, we only have timber rattlers up here and they are only spotted once every blue moon so I forget that a lot. Not to mention their venom is pretty mild.

[StuDude]

Well before you go out and turn over every rock and log out in the woods we do have venomous snakes here in North Carolina like Eastern Coral Snakes, Copperheads, Cottonmouths, Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnakes, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes and Timber Rattlesnakes. So never overturn anything with your hands or feet you need to get a snake hook.

Dudes. :cool: I know extremely well about venomous snakes, especially copperheads. When I was 9, a young copperhead got me into the hospital for 2 days and crutches for 2 weeks.:unhappy:

It wasn't a pleasant experience, and since I have a bunch of little sibs, If I see one, I get them out of there like THAT.

[youngster]

We're not trying to criticize you in any way, you asked a question and Jenn gave you a tip.

Did you find anything?

[StuDude]

I know you werent criticizing...did I sound defensive? oops, sorry (im not being sarcastic).

I found 2 worm snakes... didn't keep.

[SnakeyJay]

Good lad... Catch n release is the way to go :D

[alessia55]

No pics of the worm snakes?

[fedupdon]

So No One here has caught a snake.You don't know what you are missing if you have not. half of the fun is finding the snake not the catching. if a wild caught snake is given the right care they do fine. have had some that lived for over20 years. where do you think all the snakes that are being bred came from as far finding corns in the wild drive or ride down back roads at night or find piles of junk in fields after rain is a good time early in the am
careful where you put your hands and always replace the cover as you found it. most of all enjoy yourself if you ever get to Texas give me a shout always willing to road cruise or tramp through the fields

[Kingsnakechris]

Just tell them your going to look for one and find someone on craigslist and BUY one then tell them you found it.. I donna tho. The lack of health issues and parasites might give you away... Are THEY going to pay for all the expenses that come from catching wild snakes? It's cheaper....WAY cheaper to spend the $5.00 dollars at the expos...

[exwizard]

So No One here has caught a snake.You don't know what you are missing if you have not. half of the fun is finding the snake not the catching. if a wild caught snake is given the right care they do fine. have had some that lived for over20 years. where do you think all the snakes that are being bred came from as far finding corns in the wild drive or ride down back roads at night or find piles of junk in fields after rain is a good time early in the am
careful where you put your hands and always replace the cover as you found it. most of all enjoy yourself if you ever get to Texas give me a shout always willing to road cruise or tramp through the fields

Just tell them your going to look for one and find someone on craigslist and BUY one then tell them you found it.. I donna tho. The lack of health issues and parasites might give you away... Are THEY going to pay for all the expenses that come from catching wild snakes? It's cheaper....WAY cheaper to spend the $5.00 dollars at the expos...

Besides that, it may be legal in Texas to catch and keep wild snakes, but not here. We cant even keep captive bred native snakes. No, Im a firm believer if "if its from the wild it should stay in the wild and if its captive bred, it should remain captive and never released, but thats just me. Hakuna matada if someone else catches and keeps wild snakes but I never will. :)

[hellosugaree]

Has anyone including you studude considered perhaps you may need to wait to get the snake you want. If your parents are putting up barriers to stop you from getting a snake why compromise and get an animal that in the future you may not be happy with. I had to wait to get my snake as my parents wouldn't have it, then the military got in the way and I didn't have the time. But now I have a beautiful snake and am very happy with it. Maybe you need to accept that now is not your time...

Best advice yet.

[KORBIN5895]

Just tell them your going to look for one and find someone on craigslist and BUY one then tell them you found it.. I donna tho. The lack of health issues and parasites might give you away... Are THEY going to pay for all the expenses that come from catching wild snakes? It's cheaper....WAY cheaper to spend the $5.00 dollars at the expos...

He seriously doesn't need crap advice like this. Did you read any of this thread?

[hellosugaree]

Dudes. :cool: I know extremely well about venomous snakes, especially copperheads. When I was 9, a young copperhead got me into the hospital for 2 days and crutches for 2 weeks.:unhappy:

It wasn't a pleasant experience, and since I have a bunch of little sibs, If I see one, I get them out of there like THAT.

Sounds brutal. How did it get you?

[Lankyrob]

Sounds brutal. How did it get you?


I reckon it bit him ;) ;) :p :p :p

[hellosugaree]

Thanks, guys! I'm off to the woods!

And not going to lie, or even bend the truth or anything like that.

Good luck!

[Kingsnakechris]

He seriously doesn't need crap advice like this. Did you read any of this thread?

Yes I read the thread but if it means he's not going to encounter the headaches of a wild caught snake or worse not be able to keep it alive when the snake was better left where it should be why wouldn't I encourage him NOT to catch a snake from the wild? I fail to see how it's crap advice, i think in order to not start forum BS it's best to just agree to disagree.

[KORBIN5895]

Just tell them your going to look for one and find someone on craigslist and BUY one then tell them you found it.. I donna tho. The lack of health issues and parasites might give you away... Are THEY going to pay for all the expenses that come from catching wild snakes? It's cheaper....WAY cheaper to spend the $5.00 dollars at the expos...

Here is your crap advice


Yes I read the thread but if it means he's not going to encounter the headaches of a wild caught snake or worse not be able to keep it alive when the snake was better left where it should be why wouldn't I encourage him NOT to catch a snake from the wild? I fail to see how it's crap advice, i think in order to not start forum BS it's best to just agree to disagree.

If you would have read the thread you would have noticed that he plainly stated he wouldn't lie to his parents. Let's make a deal. You stop encouraging a minor to lie to his parents and I won't call you out.

[Kingsnakechris]

If that's your idea of "calling someone out" then fine. You got a deal. and I won't encourage anyone to get a CB instead of a wild caught snake anymore.

[KORBIN5895]

Well apparently you don't know what it is called when someone tells another person something that is untrue. That is called lying. . You were encouraging him to deceive his parents and lie to them about where he got the snake. You can paint a pony any color you want but it's still a pony.

[Kingsnakechris]

Ok, you have made your point. Now lets just let it go. Why beat a dead horse?

[KORBIN5895]

Horse who said anything about a horse? I was talking about ponies?