Wild corn snake

Return it, there are a million captive corn snakes out there for you to keep as a pet. It should be a part of the ecosystem where you found it. If corn snakes weren't so prevalent in our hobby it might be different, but really, nature needs that snake more than you do.

First, the picture makes it hard to identify conclusively. Depending on where you live, it could be any one of three species of rat snake, (black, grey, or corn) or as others said, an eastern milk snake. Here in Georgia it is illegal to remove a wild reptile from the field. What ever it actually is can probably be purchased at the next reptile show for about $25 to $40, or the equivelant of. In my opinion it really isn't worth the risk of all the other possibilities. Doesn't pay to be penny wise and pound foolish and those are my $0.02.

If it *is* an eastern milksnake, those things are almost impossible to get eating in captivity which is why you don't see them for sale. However, based on what I can see of the head and the shape of the saddles, it's probably a baby black rat snake. It's still best to just release it.

You can get a healthy, confirmed eating corn snake for $15 at a reptile expo.

Awesome little guy!! But definitely let him go in a few days, maybe give him a meal or two so he's got a better chance out in the wild where he belongs. :)

Oh for crying out loud, it's not like he's plundering the wilderness, it's one snake. Where do you think all of your captive bred snakes came from originally? I've captured and kept several wild reptiles and they can be very rewarding captives. As long as you're not breaking any laws raising a local wild snake can be fun and educational. First thing to do is research exactly which species you have so you can find out what it's needs are.

Yes most of us in the hobby kept some form of wild snake when we were younger. After finding a snake or lizzard under some log. It's probably what's got most of us into the hobby. And what will get new people into the hobby. So try not to go over board, with the it's the last wild corn snake on earth bit. Just give the little guy some time to settle down and feed a few times. You should be able to start handling it. For short periods of time until it gets use to you.

My first corn is a wc. He was laying in the middle of the road at night last year when the day temp was 80+ and the night temp was dropping down into the 40's. I drove over him (straddled) and thought it was an odd looking stick in the road so I turned around to check it out. I thought about moving him out of the road but figured he would just slither back into it after I drove off. He was obviously trying to warm himself on the blacktop. I placed him in a 2 liter with holes and planned to take him to the woods the next day. My wife then said, "well, you know it's going to be cold tomorrow too". I figured if he was going to stay more than 1 night he should have better housing. His name is Enzo and he now occupies a 40 ga aquarium in our living room. He decided to escape and explore while we were on vacation earlier this year. When we got home we noticed he was missing before we had all the luggage inside. After looking around for about 30 minutes my wife decided to start looking in shoes in our closet. Enzo slithered out from under my nightstand and straight over to my wife as to say, "I noticed you guys were gone, so I went looking for you, and finally found you".

Keeping wild caught corns is ok as long as you are within the limits of the law and if you are not keeping everyone you find.
Get a proper set up and quarantine for a few months they usually calm down in time and make great pets. In my case wc adults are more friendly than juvie's.
A few the corns I have kept came from around my neighbourhood where there happens to be a lot of cats and other predators . I keep the ones I like and relocate the rest.

For the people who say their are thousands of captive born snakes and no need to keep wild ones. How do you think new locality's are discovered?
Ie. Okeetee , Miami phase , and the moonshine phase that was found in what 06?

This male was found in Polk County , FL along the peace river valley
I would say their is something up with him some sort of defused or dilute

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...i/DSC_0630.jpg


http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...i/DSC_0763.jpg
Compared to one I found behind my shed about 5 miles north

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h1...i/DSC_0631.jpg

Nice look corn snake.
I agree with some of the posters above...
1. Check your laws. Some states don't allow you to keep wild caught (they are totally ilegle here in GA for example, even if captive bred).
2. Consider the possible risks: Wild snake might carry parasites, viruses, etc. If you have other snakes, this can be an issue you have to deal with.
3. If you are going to keep it, make sure you provide a proper setup. I'm sure it'll take a lot longer for a wc to settle in and not act defensive. It might also take him longer to feed, etc. I would provide a lot of cover in his setup so that he will feel secure.

The best argument that has been made here is that a wild caught animal could put your other animals at risk. I would QT for a few months and have a vet do a fecal float to check for internal parasites.

All this being said, I agree, that's probably a milk snake. They are incredibly tough to get eating. If you want to try to keep it, remember, its no ball python. This is not an animal that will routinely go on hunger strike for 6 months with no consequences. Given how late it is in the season, you need to get him to eat or release him ASAP.

I have had MANY wild caught snakes that adjusted just fine to captivity. Before I had access to reptile shows (read: was an adult) I had never purchased a snake. I only kept colubrids I could catch. They do not "always remain skittish". That's simply nonsense. They will never be domesticated because of what the word domesticated means. One could google for a definition...

I would never even consider bringing a wild caught snake into my home now. Frankly fancy BPs cost too much money for me to risk their health to a wayward native species.