Why are so many people opposed to keeping wild snakes as pets?

[RandomStranger]

I caught two juvenile Black Rat Snakes two months ago, and I stormed the internet googling the proper ways to take care of them, and they are both doing fine and will let me hold them about half the time and if they start to try to escape my hold on them, I don't force them to let me hold them. I let them go about their business, and I only feed them other things I catch. I want to know why almost every source of information I find on the internet says things like "Omg, don't take in wild snakes, they will definitely get parasites and mites, and infections, and die for sure!" Both snakes are healthy, and if I notice any drop in their health that I can't fix, I plan on returning them to the wild. Note that both are juveniles, so I'm not affecting the native population because they won't be breeding this year anyway, and under my care they are protected from predators that could easily make a meal out of snakes this small.

Why is it so wrong to keep wild snakes as pets?

[infernalis]

I'm sure there will be assorted answers on this one.

[Trollbie]

I don't know much on this topic, but I personally prefer captive bred and born because I don't have to feel bad taking the snake's freedom away. If other people want to keep wild snakes though, that's their business as long as the snakes are not endangered or anything.

[youngster]

Rat snakes are cannibalistic, one day you might find a snake with a full belly and the other nowhere to be seen.

If they are in separate enclosures there isn't THAT much wrong with it.

(in my opinion )

[Bradyloach]

Yah as long as there in separate enclosures. How do you think people started breeding snakes and keeping them as pets

[Kingsnakechris]

Its just like saying a person sentenced to life in prison isn't that bad... He gets three meals a day, access to drs and dentists and hes even allowed out in the yard every now and then, it's not that bad... Right?

[Bradyloach]

That's not even the same? Animals taken in get cared for and actually looked after. Prison is just not a fair argument

[theapexgerman]

As long as the snakes are cared for I don't see any reason why not keeping wild ones I got 2 wild caught snakes and they do just fine

[Trollbie]

Originally Posted by Bradyloach

That's not even the same? Animals taken in get cared for and actually looked after. Prison is just not a fair argument

I kind of disagree... You can get a degree in prison, you can watch TV and read books all day long, or work out, or whatever. I'm not saying it's fun because you can't go anywhere, but I don't exactly think it's all treacherous...

[Trollbie]

Originally Posted by theapexgerman

As long as the snakes are cared for I don't see any reason why not keeping wild ones I got 2 wild caught snakes and they do just fine

Your coral and?

[theapexgerman]

Arizona mountain king laws forced me to go out an look for one

[Trollbie]

Originally Posted by theapexgerman

Arizona mountain king laws forced me to go out an look for one

Forced? Bahahahaha you crack me up forrealz!

[theapexgerman]

Its illegal to buy or own native species and since AZ mountain king is native only one way of getting one took me a month to find one

[Lankyrob]

Wild snakes dont need to be kept as you can get captive bred ones - this doesnt disturb the ecosystem.

Reading your post you are saying you will keep it until it gets ill and then turn it free to die in the wild?? If you ARE gonna keep it then at least get it treated by a vet if it falls ill.

[Valvaren]

Wild animals are wild animals. There are enough snakes going around as it is imo with all the breeders that if you want an animal you should give a home to one that doesn't already have one. For a wild snake the wild is home.