Some quick help please...

I got a call when I got to work about a found ball python. It was found in a woman's strawberry garden and tangled in the wire. I of course ran right over there thinking I was going to foster it until it's owner reported it missing or I was getting a new free ball python lol. I arrive to this:
http://i53.tinypic.com/wuqwxk.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/2hh2ft5.jpg

My first thought was that it is a corn snake. My second thought was that is an indigenous eastern milk snake. I'm leaning more towards the milk snake but I wanted to get opinions first. Please let me know...He's a cute little guy and hasn't bitten me and has allowed me to handle him. It's gonna kill me to let him go if it's a wild snake, but I know I'll have to.

What is he??!

Got one text from a friend saying corn snake and one text from another friend saying eastern milk snake. Someone help so I know whether I should let this little guy go??

He's not a corn, that much I know. I'm not well-familiar with the eastern milk snakes, but based on your location (and a bit of digging), that would be my guess.

There's a thread in the Field Herping forum with some pictures identifying this species as the eastern milk, here. They might be able to help you out, if you'd like another opinion.

Eastern milk. Looks like he could use some groceries, though.

Timber rattlesnake! :P

Very calm for a wild, they always wiggle around looking to get away quickly

I decided to keep the little bugger. He's very friendly and looks like he can use some groceries as well. I brought him home and he immediately burrowed under the aspen and relaxed. He's a cool little critter...and I decided to name him Barry...because he was found in a strawberry garden lol.

Eastern milk snake... They looks soooo similar to corns but colors are way off... he/she have kind of Evil Face .. you know ??:weirdface

Its an eastern milk. Many of them will give a hard time as captive species. Even the CB ones I've rarely seen are supposedly hard to keep. They can be very picky eaters, there is no one thing that they will definatly mow on. Most people have success feeding them small lizards/skinks.

If you're going to keep it. I'd suggest a very strict quarantine. Keep it as far as possible from your collection. If you have other CB animals quarantined, keep him away from them as well. Its highly likely he has internal parasites or something else kicking around. Taking him to the vet to get everything worked over is a must if you want to fully incorporate him into your collection.

Hes a lovely looking fellow. I dont know hes worth the trouble he may cause you though lol.

Because I've gotten half and half answers for each it makes me really nervous to release him. I'm going to attempt to feed him a mouse tomorrow night and see how he eats it, and I will be sending a fecal sample to my vet to check for parasites...which is one of the first things I thought. Are they known to eat rodents as well? I was under the impression that they have similar diet to corn snakes in captivity...

Im 99.99% sure its a eastern milk. They can feed on mice or rats if its willing. Ive heard people feeding them birds before, I'm not sure what type of bird/chicks they used. Most commonly Ive heard of people feeding them other lizards. Anoles/Skinks or what have you.

Try him on rats or mice first for a week or two. If he doesnt budge, you can also try chicks/lizards. Or you can just go let him off a heavily wooded creek area if worst comes to worst and can't get him to eat, or the tests come back and he has something your not willing to deal with.

Talking to someone who has been working with milks for a while might be a good idea. Get it straight from the horses mouth! Im not sure how much progress has been made with CBs, I barely know anyone that has had one.

Thanks for the help! I really couldn't even tell you what kind of lizards we have here. I rarely ever see any! I'm going to try the mice and await a fecal test before I decide anything. I guess I'm really hoping he takes mice no problem at this point...and hopefully is semi clean of parasites.

OMG.....is Leah going to feed him a LIVE rodent??? :P Because no WC should tolerate a zombie dance ;) I to would try a mouse or something close to what you have up there. I know around here there are tons of field mice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rperry03

OMG.....is Leah going to feed him a LIVE rodent??? :P Because no WC should tolerate a zombie dance ;) I to would try a mouse or something close to what you have up there. I know around here there are tons of field mice.

---

HAHAHAHAHAHA we shall see. I am really just researching right now to find the best thing for him. I figured there's no harm in attempting f/t right? I mean...he looks hungry...and mice smell horribly. Maybe he'll recognize the scent and just go for it without even "thinking". LOL we'll see....maybe I'll be the first person to successfully feed f/t to every species for my entire life....not likely eh? ;)

It can't hurt ;) Im sure you have a Boa that would gladly dispose of it if he fails to eat it

Yeah he would gladly take care of any scraps....BUT I have recently learned that he is FAT and now needs to be changed to a 10 day feeding schedule, as opposed to the 7 day schedule he's been on. My normal male bp will probably take care of it...since he's not overweight lol.

Good luck with him Leah :)

Hope he eats well for you. Keep us updated.

I'm pretty sure it's an eastern milk.

If you are still on the fence check the anal plate - if it's divided it's a corn, if it's single it's a milk.

You really should release him very near to where he was found.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rperry03

It can't hurt ;) Im sure you have a Boa that would gladly dispose of it if he fails to eat it

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LGray23

Yeah he would gladly take care of any scraps....BUT I have recently learned that he is FAT and now needs to be changed to a 10 day feeding schedule, as opposed to the 7 day schedule he's been on. My normal male bp will probably take care of it...since he's not overweight lol.

---

Sharing refused food completely defeats the purpose of quarantine. Whatever he refuses to eat should be disposed of immediately.

I agree that it looks like an Eastern Milk, and I agree with Skip that it should be released back into his own territory or as close to it as possible.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JLC

Sharing refused food completely defeats the purpose of quarantine. Whatever he refuses to eat should be disposed of immediately.

---

Good point! I have none in quarantine so I was not even thinking on that level.

Eastern milk snake Leah. I had one of them, they're very cool.

Thanks everyone for the input. After careful consideration of space and funds (for the vet...etc) I have unfortunately decided to release him back to his home. I set him free behind the large wooded area behind my police dept. It made me sad to see him go considering what a friendly and adorable snake he was, I think it's better off that he lives where he belongs.

http://i56.tinypic.com/op7bsi.jpg

Goodbye Barry :tears:

I think you did the right thing. :hug: Sad face...but cute picture even so! :P