So unsure

parben · 08-02-14, 05:38 PM

Needing some advice on what to do with the fact that I just found my Albion California King snake that had escaped about a year ago in my yard today.I'm %100 sure he is the same one. I live by the lake in a mountain town in north Georgia (U.S) and am quite surprised he is still alive, also He made it through a rather brutal winter. I didn't think they could survive in our winter climates. Also we have 4 Dogs & 4 Cats so him being still in the yard as well as alive is rather incredible.My husband has called it fate

So now I'm wondering if I should let him go again? I would like to keep him especially since he is not a native to my area. I still have all my stuff for his habitat but I'm wondering what the effects of him being in the wild for almost a year can be. Parasites and what have you? Will he be more apt to bite now he has been in the wild?Will he go back to eating the non-live food? Any advice on the matter is welcome.

pdomensis · 08-04-14, 08:02 AM

I personally wouldn't re-release him. I don't like the idea of an artificially selected CA king passing its genes to the local populations. Just because it can survive there doesn't mean it should be there.

As for keeping him, yes he might have picked up some parasites, so keep him quarantined from any other herps you have. His behaviour might be more wild for now but I'm guessing he'll settle in shortly if you give him the proper care and conditions.

Great story btw. Get a more secure lid this time! :-)

Jim Smith · 08-04-14, 08:12 AM

I agree completely with pdomensis. I would keep it quarantined for at least several weeks before reintroducing him back into your snake room. I also live in Georgia though a bit further south than you and I'm amazed that it could have survived the winter we had. Is there any chance that it was in your house until late this spring and just got out of the house where you found him? I had one of my Honduran Milk Snakes escape her cage and while she was only missing about two weeks, I couldn't find her anywhere. They are incredibility adept at hiding sometimes in plain site. Anyway, congratulations on finding your snake again.

eminart · 08-04-14, 08:28 AM

What they said.

No non-native wildlife in the wild, please.

Get him checked for parasites. If he's more bitey now, tame him down.

BIGT FROM F.B. · 08-04-14, 08:28 AM

That's cool how it survived all of this time. I would keep it also. Nice story.

NewSAHSnakeMom · 08-04-14, 08:42 AM

I would be so excited I wouldn't remember to ask what the proper procedure was lol

sharthun · 08-04-14, 08:49 AM

I agree, I wouldn't re-release him. Get his enclosure setup and keep a close eye on him. Also, double check enclosure for places that he could escape again.

parben · 08-04-14, 10:08 AM

Thanks everyone! My mind was running along the same thoughts but was struggling with the whole capture vs. freedom thing since he was apparently doing so well. I'm totally a flower child at heart lol.
I'm thinking it's highly likely he was in the house for the winter. We live in a big old house with lots of places for "things" to hide, also we are in the basement so perfect hiding places there.
I do seem to be having a mental... hiccup about this snake which is quite funny really considering I had a Ball python for about 4 years. I for some reason am a little scared of him biting me even tho he has such a little mouth. I never felt that way about Riddick (python) even tho he could do a lot more damage than the Cali king. But I had a lot more time with Riddick than this guy plus he has bitten me twice already in the past. Now that he has had time in the wild it's even worse. So I'm trying to figure out how to get over this.

Cmwells90 · 08-04-14, 11:09 AM

Honestly Parben the only advice I can offer is to suck it up with being bite. It's going to happen, I had a cali king for a few years and I was bit a good few times. Now that this snake is back home, he may be more aggresive as he adapts to cage life again. With regular handling he should calm down in time.