Help please...

[Morphie]

Last night my friend took out the trash. He paused, considered a spot on the ground and then demanded that i drop everything and come look. At his feet was a tiny snake (which i later determined to be the native "brown snake") who had been injured (perhaps by getting run over by the garbage can which rolls).

The little guy was trying to get away but couldn't really make it very far, as about 2/3 of the way down from his head is an area that appears damaged and punctured. He seems to be able to move the part past this area (like his tail) but he doesn't really respond to touch applied to the part past the injury, where he does respond to a gentle touch on his midsection. (i learned this after taking him inside and gently running water on his wound, and dabbing it very carefully with alcohol on a piece of sterile gauze). It looks pretty terrible, but it's not bloody. I gave him a plastic tub with wadded paper towels and paper towel substrate, and he's on a spare heatmat in my bedroom. This morning i went to check on him and he tried to book it out of the container. I scooped him up and put him back and noticed a very terrible-smelling clear liquid on my fingers and on the floor where he had been wiggling.

Basically, i want to know- should i try to rehab him or is he in so much pain (and so unlikely to survive) that i should just dispatch him? Does anyone know a wildlife vet that would supply him with some antibiotics for not too much money, if he stands a chance? I'm a poor college student and i haven't gotten my financial aid in yet, so i'm on a *very* tight budget at this very second.

Anyone know what that smell was??

[SatanicIntention]

He might have musked you, which is a good sign as he would need to have control over that area to actually musk. I would leave him alone for awhile, keep him in a dark warm place with water, and see how he does. The less stressed he is, the best possible chance for recovery.

I had a similar thing happen to a house gecko I found. He/she had gotten partially stuck in my door and couldn't move his rear legs. I kept him warm in a kritter keeper for a week or so, with some water. By the end of the week, he was moving quite well, and by the end of 2 weeks, he was able to use his legs, so I let him go. He/ she scrambled right up the side of our house.

Just see how he does. If you notice any bad smells, signs of redness or infection, then I would definitely euthanize him.

[icygirl]

Hey, not sure where you are located in Eastern MA, but if you are near Weymouth have you considered taking it to the NE wildlife center? They take care of all sorts of injured wildlife. http://www.newildlife.com/Content/Work.html Just thought I'd mention it

Greg Mertz also operates in Needham at the Chestnut Street Animal Hosp., and I've seen people bringing in various little critters to him there, so you could try that.

[DSGB]

i have those little brown snakes around my house and pick em up all the time. they def. musk and it def. smells.

[Roswell]

I would contact a local vet who deals with reptiles and see if they have any suggestions. Also might want to contact the zoo if its not too far from you. They would deal with wild animals on a pretty regular basis and probably have more varied knowledge.