A very nice story

[infernalis]

With all the ranting and complaining going on lately, I figured we need a hero to lift spirits on the forum a bit, so here it goes.

I am copying this from an Australian forum, it really warms my heart.

Many thanks to Robyn and the reptile report for bringing this thread to light.

Wild Snake with Ticks | The Reptile Report (http://thereptilereport.com/wild-snake-with-ticks/)


As the snake was found (before photo)

http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=237590&d=1328689960

After the ticks were removed..

http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=237593&d=1328689994

The (over 100) Ticks.... Final tick count is now closer to 1000!

http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=237594&d=1328690004

The most recent update...

I am the one who found the snake. I manage all the Campgrounds on South Stradbroke Island off the coast of the Gold Coast and arranged for it to be transported to the mainland by the Coast Guard, and for the RSPCA animal ambulance to transport it to Curumbin Wildlife Hospital. The poor snake was in an aweful way, and it looked like he/she was slithering around blind. We could not do anything else but help the poor thing. Of course we have had the horrible comments that a shovel would have been the best thing for it, because to some people if it is not covered in fur, and in their opinion warm and fuzzy, it does not deserve help. Fortuanately we don't all feel that way about our scaly friends, and I'd rather this little fellow, than an epidemic of the rat & mouse population. I have spoken to the hospital, and they are doing blood work, to see if there is any other underlying conditions. Apparently there was a combination of paralisis ticks and brown bush ticks and there was well over 100 of them. Makes you sick to think about it. I am hoping that he or she will survive and can be released back here on the island where he or she belongs.

[Tango]

WOW - that first pic was hard to look at.

So lucky for the snake that the right person came around at the right time. I hope it continues to improve.

[rmfsnakes32]

That is awesome! Learn something new everyday I did not know snakes could get ticks.

[Valvaren]

Very nice story, but I remember reading this on this forum before, still nice to have it brought up again.

[infernalis]

Very nice story, but I remember reading this on this forum before, still nice to have it brought up again.


Really? How did I miss that??

I must be slacking in my old age.

[shaunyboy]

Really? How did I miss that??

I must be slacking in my old age.

it's the first i've seen it Wayne

great thread mate

snake ticks look even more horrible than snake mites,what horrible wee beasty's

glad the park ranger sorted the carpet python out

cheers shaun

[infernalis]

it's the first i've seen it Wayne

great thread mate

snake ticks look even more horrible than snake mites,what horrible wee beasty's

glad the park ranger sorted the carpet python out

cheers shaun

I have read that thread with great interest, I even registered on that forum just to say my kudos.

Now according to the ranger who sent the snake in for help, X-ray examination indicates a severe head trauma similar to being stepped on or run over, and it was that injury that weakened the snake allowing so many ticks to take over.

They are hopeful for a full recovery, and as of now the snake is in "foster care" while it heals.

[TheBoogieDown]

That's insane to see the majority of the ticks on his face. Life with no hands must be tough. It does my heart good to see that someone helped this poor thing.

[alessia55]

That's incredible... What a kind soul to save and heal that snake.

[AjaMichelle]

How wonderful. :) that first photo is just awful. I'm happy to hear that this snake has relief from those ticks. I hope he's healthy in spite of them.

[millertime89]

whether it was this site or not I've definitely seen it before, still a good story.

[infernalis]

it's all over facebook, the Aussie Python forum has the facebook like plugin installed.

[Donnie]

Great thread. Never seen anything like it before, hopefully he/she will recover

[TheBoogieDown]

By the way, did anyone read anything about his eyes? I can't stand anything getting near my eyes (including that puff of air at the optometrists!) so when I see anything like this, my first thought is "THE EYES! SAVE THEM!"

[infernalis]

Yes, it was assumed that the snake was all but blinded by large ticks all around it's eyes.

Ticks, blood feeding mites and fleas are all lifeforms I would not care if they all went extinct.

[TheBoogieDown]

That's very sad to hear. Would you release a blinded snake to the wild again? And i must agree, good sir, that ticks and such would be better off dead. Also mosquitoes, I read somewhere they are one of a very few number of species that contribute next to nothing to the environment (other than food of course).

[infernalis]

That's very sad to hear. Would you release a blinded snake to the wild again? And i must agree, good sir, that ticks and such would be better off dead. Also mosquitoes, I read somewhere they are one of a very few number of species that contribute next to nothing to the environment (other than food of course).

You misunderstood, once the ticks that were obstructing the snakes vision were removed.. surely you get the idea.

The rehab centre would certainly not release it until it was ascertained that it could lead a normal life.

Every single genunine wildlife rehabilitation facility I have ever been in always keeps animals that are less than full capacity in assisted living until the animal passes away.

A. for educational reasons.

B. To tug at our heart strings in hopes of a donation.

[TheBoogieDown]

Ah, yes I did misunderstand then. I thought one of those suckers had either attached to his eye and ruptured it (which would be horrid).

[BryanB]

I love stories like this. Once many moons ago I volunteered at a wild life rehab and these 2 construction workers came in with a huge box and in it was a 5 or so foot black snake stuck in Constitution fencing. Well half hour later with the help of said workers and tin snips the snake was free with no harm done. The 2 men asked if they could take the snake back to the wooded lot they where working at and set free the snake so i let them. They left us a $50 donation.

[Squirtle]

Man, that pic sent chills up my spine. I hate all kinds of bugs!

[jaleely]

oh my god that made my chest clench and seriously horrified me.
i'm really getting sensitive in my age.
that is proooobably going to haunt me.. *weak laugh*

I can't imagine *not* taking pity on that animal and helping it. I love snakes, I hate ticks. And ants. But gah, weather you like snakes or not nothing should be subjected to that.

Poor thing had an injury...probably from a human...and bled, obviously and those things got on it. Ugh.

and talk about a nasty place to live if there are that many readily available disgusting ticks...

[Robyn@SYR]

Picture is just so disturbing...

And sad!

[infernalis]

These same tick infest all sorts of tropical animals.

[jaleely]

Yeah but i can't do anything about it, and i didn't even think about it before. lol ugh.
I have to say there's probably only one other thing i've ever seen that was this horrible for some reason (and that was a crazy peta website of people in viatnam skinning minks alive).

Maybe just because i don't like ticks so much. Just, really really horrible. that poor snake. i'm glad they took care of him though. i was going to join the forum to thank them. a lot of people wouldn't have saved it.
but lordy...for some reason that photo just stuck with me. I probably would have clicked the link even if there'd been a disclaimer, but i really wasn't expecting *that* lol
the post said a nice story!! LOL
#horrified

i don't get horrified easily. just wrenched me though, that did!

i know there's worse out there. i need to just get over it. but ick.

Welp i posted on there, and then made the mistake of looking through the rest of that thread. HOrrible.
ugh.
nightmares tonight!

[Ivanator]

I just read that entire post on that thread and I think it is just so amazing that someone actually helped that poor animal. It's sad though that the last update said that its head was still severely swollen and it still wasn't eating. It's more active than before, but still not very. It's head also had 3 fractures in it, probably from being hit by a car, but hopefully it will make it and be released back into the wild

[h3h]

I've seen that picture before, wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. It looks horrible, or it did. Cheers for the snake!

- h3

[jaleely]

Maybe a bit too much, but that bothered me all last night. I might have shed a couple tears. It's just not something i even thought i'd see. Really couldn't handle it.
Kind of silly, i guess.

I really hope he can pull through. I wonder how they removed them. I wonder if he still has tick heads under the skin, and that's why he's swollen. AND they keep picking ticks off of him. It's just horrible. He's probably not going to make it.
I'm happy to see that someone had compassion enough to try to help though. I hope he's not suffering, and i hope that it provided him some relief at least.

[Robyn@SYR]

I've seen that picture before, wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

Hmmm, I think I might indeed wish that on my worst enemy, seems like a good choice : )