Escape at school!

My classroom BP escaped! Apparently, a student attempted to open the tank and left it unclipped on one side yesterday after school without me present. I know which student. When I went in this morning, Fibonacci was gone and the lid was up on one side.

He is almost a year old and about 425g. The gap in the bottom of my door is less than a half inch and there is also a hole slightly larger than a quarter under the sink cabinet in my room. The is no way to access the toe kick without taking apart the cabinetry (not an option). Also, my classroom is on the second floor.

I moved his tank to the floor and left the lid off with a rat in it and did the same with a secondary tank in the adjoining classroom in hopes of him coming out, smelling food, eating and getting tired enough for me to find him in the morning.

Maintenance on campus has some sort of expensive heat-sensing camera that can differentiate between about of a tenth of a degree. You think this would work or are snake body temps too similar to the surrounding environment?

Any other ideas on how to get him back? Do you think he could fit under the door and get to the hallway? What about going down the stairs? Thanks in advance.

I am freaking out and will continue to do so until he is back and safe.

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:OAny chance the student stole him??
Ask all the other staff etc about the building sructue of the school. make sure all doors are closed. He should be anywhere dark,cramped and warm.
You might be able to see him with a heat sensing camera...
Be sure to have a long stern conversation with the class about NOT TOUCHING THE ENCLOSURE tommorow.

Setting up the tanks like you did is a good plan. Snakes, especially balls, don't usually wander too far when they get out. Would the janitors mind if you left some flour on the floor of your classroom overnight in case he's on the move? You can also ask the students to just keep an eye out in the classroom, as long as none of them will freak out about it. He probably won't come out during the day when there's so much noise though.

My girl's gotten loose a couple times in my hoarder-mom's basement (my walls are made of sheets, lol, not exactly snake-proof), and even she's come wandering back after a few days, I just kept a water dish near the space heater, both times I found her just hanging out and getting a drink.

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Originally Posted by LotusCorvus

My girl's gotten loose a couple times in my hoarder-mom's basement (my walls are made of sheets, lol, not exactly snake-proof), and even she's come wandering back after a few days, I just kept a water dish near the space heater, both times I found her just hanging out and getting a drink.

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That sounds like a pretty good idea. A snake has to have heat and water at some point, right? Unless they find it somewhere else on their adventure, they might as well go to the nearest available source, which you can leave out.

No luck on the rats. They were still there when I got there this morning. I may try out the flour thing and just bring a vacuum. Maybe I can sneak in this weekend...

Any luck with the heat-sensing camera?

No luck with the camera, but we only got to use it for about a half hour and in limited locations. I think I am stuck with constant checking of warm places (fridge, copier, people's mini fridges, behind computers, etc.) and likely will be for some time due to the large area. I hope he finds his way back...

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Don't give up hope. My Monty was missing for two months. We looked EVERWHERE. While I know snakes can go quite a while without food, he was only about 160g so he didn't have much reserves to go on.

Two days after taking in a re-home BP, Monty appeared. Literally just appeared. Walked into the front room and he was sitting smack dab in the middle of the floor. I actually thought it was a rubber snake at first! :snake:

He was so so skinny and covered in dust bunnies but he was fine. He clearly hadn't found anything to eat on his own. We had kept a bowl of water down on the floor the whole time, that may have been what kept him alive and what kept him from wandering too far away.

A school is a large place to search! I suggest putting a team of 4-5 ppl together and sweep the school and look everywhere! I am so careful not to turn any snakes loose. If I do I always find them because I look everywhere. But if someone stole him or he escaped out the hole. He is gone! I.suggest the sliding top reptile Aquarium. You can lock the top as well.

I'm a teacher as well, and have lost 2 snakes due to improperly closed cages (either myself or a student). My science classroom is connected with 3 other classrooms, and a huge lab storage room, so a search is near impossible. Only advice I can give you is that if there is no way it can escape your building, it WILL turn up, whether in your classroom or another teacher's. I lost my ball python for 2 months before another teacher came running and screaming to me that there was a huge snake in one of her drawers. :rofl: I also lost a rosy boa for nearly a year, before another teacher came running to me freaked out about a snake she found in her classroom.

Just let everyone know that you lost your snake, and besides some frazzled nerves, it'll turn up eventually.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I will keep looking. I left the rats and his tank open for the weekend and will keep trying every night. The other teachers seem okay with this. Not too freaked out, but they also don't seem to completely believe me that he will not try and eat them. Also, you wouldn't believe the stories I am hearing about "giant man-eating ball pythons" from some people. I try and educate them, but some adults are resistant to education...

As a fellow teacher, this is why I have never set up a BP enclosure in my classroom. Too many opportunities for something to go wrong.

I hope you find him though and everything goes well.

I really hope you find your snake in good condition.

I hate to be "that" guy but I gotta ask. What on earth were you doing with a snake in a class room in an enclosure that doesn't have a keyed lock??? That is just asking for trouble.

Do the other teachers know he's loose? How about the parents? I know and you know that the chances of a student getting hurt by this snake are extremely small but I highly doubt that every parent will know that and some will be pretty upset. It's just irresponsible on so many levels. You have risked the safety of the snake, the sanity of the parents, and possibly added more bad press for us all.

What happens if a child is bitten? I know that's a million to one chance but there's still a chance. The snake could find a home in a desk, in or under a book bag or jackets. If the snake is stressed, which it probably is, it could easily strike if startled. If that happens I'll probably find out by watching any news network.

Sorry to be negative but I feel like it just had to be said.

Relax you will find him! My adult bp got out in my classroom and I found him with the help of cornstarch. If you can get in your room on the weekend cover the floor in a thin layer of corn starch so you can follow tracks the next day. Needs to be a weekend so you can get the room clean before students get there. Be warned it is a mess to clean up but will help track him down.

I have to agree with cecilbturtle here. Yes, the cost of a proper lockable cage is higher, but if you want to keep animals in a situation where people who cannot be trusted have access to the cages (students count, BIGTIME), that's something you need to budget for.

just had my female spider ecape and found her on the other side of my house under a chest of drawers but i hope you can get him back ps i wish my teachers would have had the ability to keep animals i think i would have gotten into snakes much sooner:gj::gj::gj:

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Originally Posted by cecilbturtle

I really hope you find your snake in good condition.

I hate to be "that" guy but I gotta ask. What on earth were you doing with a snake in a class room in an enclosure that doesn't have a keyed lock??? That is just asking for trouble.

Do the other teachers know he's loose? How about the parents? I know and you know that the chances of a student getting hurt by this snake are extremely small but I highly doubt that every parent will know that and some will be pretty upset. It's just irresponsible on so many levels. You have risked the safety of the snake, the sanity of the parents, and possibly added more bad press for us all.

What happens if a child is bitten? I know that's a million to one chance but there's still a chance. The snake could find a home in a desk, in or under a book bag or jackets. If the snake is stressed, which it probably is, it could easily strike if startled. If that happens I'll probably find out by watching any news network.

Sorry to be negative but I feel like it just had to be said.

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Although I agree that a latching lid, rather than clips, would be more ideal, I think keyed locks are a little overkill. Guinea pigs pack a much bigger bite than a BP, and no one thinks twice about keeping those vicious little buggers in a wire cage in a classroom. Sorry, but this is just a pet peeve of mine. I take my BPs to my mom's 5th-grade classroom for genetics lessons every year. I'm not allowed to permit the students to touch them, which I'm fine with for the safety of my snakes, but no principal would even flinch at the kids petting a hamster, guinea pig, or any other furry animal that has a much higher chance of drawing blood if it gets agitated. The double standard annoys me, and although the herp community has to be aware of such crappy standards, I don't think a teacher deserves to get blasted for trusting students of a reasonable age to follow rules or for treating a fairly harmless snake as just that.

I'm not blasting anyone.

I was taught personally and professionally if you can take the "probably" out of any situation then do it. The kids would PROBABLY be responsible enough to not touch the snake when unsupervised. The kids would PROBABLY be diligent enough to remember to close and latch the top. The snake PROBABLY won't escape. If you lock the enclosure with a keyed or combo lock then you can take the PROBABLY out of all of those statements as long as the teacher is responsible enough to make sure the enclosure was secure every time.

I took reptiles to schools for years. I think its great that teachers want to keep animals, especially the often misunderstood and wrongly feared snake. All I am saying is that the escape is the responsibility of the keeper. In your own home you keep snakes knowing the risks. In a classroom the kids and parents trust the teacher to limit these risks as much as possible. This teacher did not. I truly hope the snake is found in good health without incident. Also I hope that anyone thinking of keeping any type of pet, snake or hamster or whatever, that they care enough about the animals and the students to properly secure the enclosure to prevent this type of incident.

I believe this is a good teacher. I love that he wants to expose his students to snakes. He made a mistake. We all have. Hopefully he learned from this and hopefully others have too.

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By the way, if you condone keeping reptiles unlocked in close proximity to kids then fine. You are part of the problem as well. Where do you think all the bad press comes from? Although there are some shady people out there the majority of it comes from good people making poor decisions. A snake cannot escape a well made LOCKED enclosure! So go ahead and give everyone the benefit of the doubt but that is exactly why this stuff happens.

My precautions taken were deemed appropriate. I always double check everything before leaving my classroom (and did this time). The difference here is that a student that was not even suppose to be on campus went into my room unsupervised through an adjoining classroom.

I had discussed a locking tank with administration at the start of the year and was told it sounded like overkill. While I agree that the responsibility is mine, I also don't want to come across as negligent. My students know better and are watched constantly. This issue happened because the thought of worrying about other students didn't cross my mind.

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Originally Posted by Talae

My precautions taken were deemed appropriate. I always double check everything before leaving my classroom (and did this time). The difference here is that a student that was not even suppose to be on campus went into my room unsupervised through an adjoining classroom.

I had discussed a locking tank with administration at the start of the year and was told it sounded like overkill. While I agree that the responsibility is mine, I also don't want to come across as negligent. My students know better and are watched constantly. This issue happened because the thought of worrying about other students didn't cross my mind.

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I know this was asked before, and I'm not sure I seen an answer. Are you sure the child that snuck into your classroom didn't steal it?

Well now you know that it in fact wasn't over kill but obviously necessary.

By the way, any luck what so ever finding him? Is there any way you can sneak a peek inside that cabinet?

All signs point to escape. The way the tank was open when I came in looked like an escape and when confronted, his story matched what I thought it would be. I will continue to look.

There is no way to see inside the cabinet without removing part of the cabinet and since it is not mine I will have to continue to try and lure him out.

I say do what you have to to take a look. Flowers, candy, a case of beer... Whatever it takes to get at least a look.

Could you fit a mirror like a dentist's mirror in there? You can get one at an auto parts store. Heck, even ask around to borrow a telescoping camera. Mechanics use them. Actually so do plumbers.

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Originally Posted by cecilbturtle

By the way, if you condone keeping reptiles unlocked in close proximity to kids then fine. You are part of the problem as well. Where do you think all the bad press comes from? Although there are some shady people out there the majority of it comes from good people making poor decisions. A snake cannot escape a well made LOCKED enclosure! So go ahead and give everyone the benefit of the doubt but that is exactly why this stuff happens.

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Great, lump us with the people that deliberately let their snakes free, or the ones with blankets on the top of their burm cage that gets their child killed... :rolleyes: All of my cages have pin locks, and my Hog Island Boa is in a Neodesha that is inescapable. Mistakes were made... they happen. I've been teaching for 12 years, and have had far more escapes at home than the 2 I've had at school.

Prior to becoming a teacher, I researched the best/safest reptiles to have in a classroom. I was inspired by my Biology teacher who had a classroom filled with animals, and now I teach in that very same room. I teach in a low income school who's population is rarely exposed to reptiles. It's amazing when the kids exclaim, "it's not slimy!" after touching a snake for the very first time. I've turned on many a young person to reptile keeping, and inspired some to follow my footsteps and perhaps become teachers some day, like I was many moons ago. Here's some pics of my zoo, and happy students:

Ball Pythons make great genetics lesson examples.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8029/7...100969d7_z.jpg

The Hog Island Boa is a class favorite.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8178/7...d1108d8490.jpg

My Russian Tortoise at the San Diego Science Festival (non-toxic, water soluble paint).
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8436/7...55a92db8_z.jpg

A student planking with a Blue Tongued Skink on her back.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8298/7...a968f871_z.jpg

The Bearded Dragons always put on a show during breeding season.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8037/7...b4d88a31_z.jpg

Yeah, I got bit, but my calm demeanor showed my students that they had nothing to fear from this Rosy Boa. Some students went so far to be asked to be bitten as well. Of course I didn't let them.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8310/7...962a3e26_z.jpg

My students get the opportunity to hand feed a Fly River Turtle! How many of you can say you have done this?
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8038/7...7c5dbfc0_z.jpg

Here's me.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/7...24d16c37_z.jpg

Bottom line is that safety comes first in my classroom. Every kid knows to wash/sanitize their hands after every handling session. Each class has a very responsible student/group of students that I have chosen to be the reptile caretaker(s). Their role is to keep an extra eye out on the reptiles when they are being handled, and they also feed and clean cages. The benefit of educating 100s of students each year on reptile caretaking, far outweighs the small risk of an escape of a harmless reptile IMO.

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Originally Posted by MarkieJ

Bottom line is that safety comes first in my classroom. Every kid knows to wash/sanitize their hands after every handling session. Each class has a very responsible student/group of students that I have chosen to be the reptile caretaker(s). Their role is to keep an extra eye out on the reptiles when they are being handled, and they also feed and clean cages. The benefit of educating 100s of students each year on reptile caretaking, far outweighs the small risk of an escape of a harmless reptile IMO.

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Definitely. I have been working on doing the same. I haven't worked up to having students hold them yet, but was getting there. I also teach in a low income area and the students know very little of any science before getting to 7th grade. I am confident that my 7th graders are responsible enough and now knowledgeable enough to not mess with the tank (and definitely to let me know if such a thing were to happen). This was a 9th grader that came onto to campus to visit the teacher next door and shouldn't have been in my room (or hers since she wasn't there yet). I still have mice in the tank and no snake as of today. I have yet to try the flour/corn starch, but that will happen this week. I might just put a line of it in front of each door to start with.

What you do is absolutely amazing. I wish more schools had programs like yours and teachers like you. This goes for the OP as well.

My point is that the general public doesn't care about all the good you are doing. They will only pay attention when you make that one mistake. That's when the media gets a hold of it and blows it out of proportion. I can see it now. "Blood thirsty python loose in your children's school. Film at 11." Then the politicians get involved and change legislation to protect the public from these exotic terrors. (Lacey Act)

All I'm saying is lock them up! Simple. Effective. I won't back down from this. It is irresponsible to do otherwise.

i wish i had a teacher like markiej in highschool! its awesome what your doing with the kids and talae i really hope you find your BP and are able to have more in the classroom and let them be an awesome experience like markiej has. i had never realized how BP's are perfect for teaching genetics =P and it really makes it fun for them to learn about plus teaching reptile handing/care and getting more numbers into the reptile community never hurts! what your doing is by far the coolest thing i have ever heard of a highschool teacher doing with their class :) and talae i have never had a snake escape on me so unfortunately i cant really give advice but i really hope you find it and can include them in your class also! :)

like cecilbturtle said we need way more teachers like you guys!

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Originally Posted by MarkieJ

Great, lump us with the people that deliberately let their snakes free, or the ones with blankets on the top of their burm cage that gets their child killed... :rolleyes: All of my cages have pin locks, and my Hog Island Boa is in a Neodesha that is inescapable. Mistakes were made... they happen. I've been teaching for 12 years, and have had far more escapes at home than the 2 I've had at school.

Bottom line is that safety comes first in my classroom. Every kid knows to wash/sanitize their hands after every handling session. Each class has a very responsible student/group of students that I have chosen to be the reptile caretaker(s). Their role is to keep an extra eye out on the reptiles when they are being handled, and they also feed and clean cages. The benefit of educating 100s of students each year on reptile caretaking, far outweighs the small risk of an escape of a harmless reptile IMO.

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Cecil is right once again. We don't have to lump you in with those people - you've done it to yourself. The cause isn't the important factor; it's the end result. Loose snake = hysteria and/or media problem. It doesn't matter that somebody who shouldn't have had access caused it; had there been a lock on that cage, it wouldn't have been possible.

How many escapes at home is "far more?" Sounds like you're pretty lax with securing cages to me. I've had ZERO escapes, ever. No, I don't think I'm perfect, but it's part of my routine when finishing up with any of my reptiles to double check that cages are properly closed/secured before I do anything else. It's a simple step that keeps my animals safe.

That said, like cecil, I have to praise you for what seems like an awesome classroom, so keep up the great work there. Educating kids truly is the path to getting the public in general to accept our hobby.

This is my opinion and i know im going to get attacked for this but i think you guys should lighten up on him, what he and the other teacher that posted here are doing is amazing for the kids the community for general reptile awareness. Yes he made the mistake of trusting his classmembers too much, we all make mistakes. If something serious was ever to happen because of something like this i would blame the press not the person. The press is the one doing the harm not the people. I just think you guys are being a bit harsh IMO

Given that we can't control the press, but with careful (and strict) caging practices, we CAN control, and probably eliminate, escapes, I think we should do so. That eliminates the bad press problem, and it's not hard to do. Like cecil, I don't want to hear about it on the evening news.

I know this might sound strange, but I had the same thing happen to me... 19 years ago. I took my ball python into the art room my senior year to do some live studies of it. 3 days later, the lid is off and my snake is loose in the highschool. I was just a stupid kid at the time. Had I known then what I know now, none of it would have ever happened. I suspected that someone stole her, but could never prove it. 5 months later she magically showed back up on the floor of the art room. To this day I don't know if she escaped or was stolen then returned.

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Originally Posted by olstyn

Cecil is right once again. We don't have to lump you in with those people - you've done it to yourself. The cause isn't the important factor; it's the end result. Loose snake = hysteria and/or media problem. It doesn't matter that somebody who shouldn't have had access caused it; had there been a lock on that cage, it wouldn't have been possible.

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Hysteria and media problem with a ball python and rosy boa? I'm not keeping burms or retics in my classroom. My students handle my snakes on a consistent basis and these snakes are puppy-dog tame (Note: the rare, lone biter female Rosy Boa does not get handled). The parents are fully aware of my classroom animals (Open House was a blast). Again, the rosy boas are kept in glass cages with pin locks. My ball python I have since taken home to place in my racks. And the Hog Isle Boa is kept in a Neodesha cage with screws that keep the heavy glass sliding doors from being opened. I think you're mistaking the idiots who keep reptiles, and negatively get in the news, with the educated responsible herp keepers like myself and others.

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Originally Posted by olstyn

How many escapes at home is "far more?" Sounds like you're pretty lax with securing cages to me. I've had ZERO escapes, ever. No, I don't think I'm perfect, but it's part of my routine when finishing up with any of my reptiles to double check that cages are properly closed/secured before I do anything else. It's a simple step that keeps my animals safe.

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I've had 5 escapes at home: 2 can be attributed to keeping part of my collection with an inexperienced ex-girlfriend, and 3 can be blamed on my curious kitty. And yes, I thought I had cat proofed my racks after the first escape, but underestimated how smart my cat is.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5212/5...72f7c6b5_z.jpg

Fortunately she hasn't figured out how to get by my bungee security now.

Curious olstyn... how long have you been keeping reptiles? Unfortunately we can read all we can about proper care and husbandry, but nothing beats experience. I'm highly confident that I won't ever have another escapee, but that's certainly not a 100% guarantee.

Why are you fighting locking your cages so hard?

I have been keeping for 25 years. 100s of snakes at a time for many of those years. Never once have I had an escape from a locked enclosure.

When I have more time ill post some stories that have been printed about balls being dangerous. One story has a photo of a normal bp and says pythons grow to 20 feet or more. You want to blame the media? Fine. I blame them as well but why even give them anything to sensationalize in the first place???

You want 100%? LOCKS!

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Originally Posted by cecilbturtle

Why are you fighting locking your cages so hard?

I have been keeping for 25 years. 100s of snakes at a time for many of those years. Never once have I had an escape from a locked enclosure.

When I have more time ill post some stories that have been printed about balls being dangerous. One story has a photo of a normal bp and says pythons grow to 20 feet or more. You want to blame the media? Fine. I blame them as well but why even give them anything to sensationalize in the first place???

You want 100%? LOCKS!

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this^^^ X2

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Originally Posted by MarkieJ

Hysteria and media problem with a ball python and rosy boa? I'm not keeping burms or retics in my classroom. My students handle my snakes on a consistent basis and these snakes are puppy-dog tame (Note: the rare, lone biter female Rosy Boa does not get handled). The parents are fully aware of my classroom animals (Open House was a blast). Again, the rosy boas are kept in glass cages with pin locks. My ball python I have since taken home to place in my racks. And the Hog Isle Boa is kept in a Neodesha cage with screws that keep the heavy glass sliding doors from being opened. I think you're mistaking the idiots who keep reptiles, and negatively get in the news, with the educated responsible herp keepers like myself and others.



I've had 5 escapes at home: 2 can be attributed to keeping part of my collection with an inexperienced ex-girlfriend, and 3 can be blamed on my curious kitty. And yes, I thought I had cat proofed my racks after the first escape, but underestimated how smart my cat is.

Curious olstyn... how long have you been keeping reptiles? Unfortunately we can read all we can about proper care and husbandry, but nothing beats experience. I'm highly confident that I won't ever have another escapee, but that's certainly not a 100% guarantee.

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About 10 years now, and like I said, zero escapes to date. Once again, I find myself agreeing with cecil - it's not that I'm worried about what happens with an escaped BP, as we all know they're harmless - it's that the media hears "escaped snake" and turns it into "man-eating monster" even if it's something small and harmless like a BP or a rosy boa.

I am trying corn starch powder in front of the doors tonight. I will try and update you tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

No luck :(

I will try again soon. I might be able to try tomorrow depending on the cleaning schedule. Also, I still have the two rats :(

How long has it been missing now?


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Tonight marks a week.

This sucks, but don't give up. Howabout a heat pad along the wall with a towel underneath with a tight hide box ontop?

I also agree you should get a cage with locks. AP and Boaphile both make nice PVC enclosures with locks. You might think it is overkill, but you can't trust everyone unfortunately. It isn't about the safety of others as much as it is the safety of the snake. Having a snake on the loose is a very frightening experience for a snake owner. I only had one escape and it was for less than one day. I wouldn't sleep until I found the snake. It was very stressful for me and not something I would want to go through again.

Put yourself in a position where this will never happen again and trust me you will be much happier :) and so will the snake! Get that keyed lock!

The snake will show up eventually. Are you allowed in the school at night to sit and listen for the snake moving? Its very possible that it has found a nice spot to curl up already and won't be moving anytime soon.

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Originally Posted by Capray

This sucks, but don't give up. Howabout a heat pad along the wall with a towel underneath with a tight hide box ontop?

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I might set that up. Not a bad idea. I can also start leaving the rat tank open in the lab all day for him in hopes he gets hungry (and not just at night). I am definitely very sad about this whole thing...

I wish you luck on finding the snake, seems like your doing everything in your power to find him

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Jeez why all the drama? :colbert:
I agree locks or latch lids are awesome but what's done is done.

I hope you find you snake soon man.

Did you find him yet?

No luck yet :(

I have tried corn starch in front of the doors two or three times and have left the rats in a tank with no lid at night. I am really sad about the whole thing.

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Originally Posted by Talae

No luck yet :(

I have tried corn starch in front of the doors two or three times and have left the rats in a tank with no lid at night. I am really sad about the whole thing.

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Um...no lid? Really? Have you learned nothing? Just put them in a wire cage or even a plastic tub with holes.

Ask maintenance to let the temp drop at night and set up "hot" spots with a rat, secured in a wire cage, and some hides. Pythons can sense the heat and will seek it out.

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Originally Posted by 3ofSwords

Jeez why all the drama? :colbert:
I agree locks or latch lids are awesome but what's done is done.

I hope you find you snake soon man.

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I like my snakes. I like taking my snakes into schools educating kids. I like to be able to purchase a snake from all over the country. Oh...wait...I can't do that anymore with some species. That's right. Something called the Lacey Act got passed by a bunch of law makers pressured to do something drastic to quell the fears of the ill informed. The public doesn't care about all the good we do. They only hear about the bad. You know, snakes getting loose in our schools terrorizing poor defenseless children. Why all the drama? "Jeez", I don't know?


Talae, this isn't directed at you. I've said my piece to you and I think you've heard me. You know I respect your efforts and your desire to educate not only the kids in your class room but also their parents and other faculty. My ONLY issue is not putting locks on the enclosures.

I really hope you find the snake soon.

I understand your comments and plan to put a lock on the enclosure for all future animals in my classroom. I think that bringing that part up over and over is kind of beating a dead horse. What is done is done and others should learn from my mistake.

As for the rats having no lid, I don't understand the issue. They can't scale the tank and the snake can find them. I don't understand how to make it so he can get to them, but also enclose them...or is your issue a different one?

The rats are in a room where no kids can get to and is locked at all times. The door is 15-20 feet from my classroom door and the intent is for the snake to be able to find them, but for the kids to not have access. This has been discussed with administration, maintenance and the cleaning crew. Also, the temp is set by the district and can't be changed, but hot spots are being used.

Do you guys think that there is a decent chance he would go down the stairs despite me making water, food and hot spots available? I realize that he is capable, but it seems like such a big effort when he could hopefully smell the rats nearby.

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Originally Posted by Talae

I understand your comments and plan to put a lock on the enclosure for all future animals in my classroom. I think that bringing that part up over and over is kind of beating a dead horse. What is done is done and others should learn from my mistake.

As for the rats having no lid, I don't understand the issue. They can't scale the tank and the snake can find them. I don't understand how to make it so he can get to them, but also enclose them...or is your issue a different one?

The rats are in a room where no kids can get to and is locked at all times. The door is 15-20 feet from my classroom door and the intent is for the snake to be able to find them, but for the kids to not have access. This has been discussed with administration, maintenance and the cleaning crew. Also, the temp is set by the district and can't be changed, but hot spots are being used.

Do you guys think that there is a decent chance he would go down the stairs despite me making water, food and hot spots available? I realize that he is capable, but it seems like such a big effort when he could hopefully smell the rats nearby.

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First of all I didn't bring it back up. 3ofSwords did.

Second, rats can jump...quite high actually.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmaEJpf98mw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMsS0TuKMHY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aioxUxFqI0

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_high_can_a_rat_jump

I'm really starting to think you should just keep the animals at home. You haven't thought much of this through. Before you say you have, you already have had an escape around children you are responsible for and now you are doing things to cause another possible escape of rats. Beating a dead horse? Maybe. Maybe some people just have no business bringing animals into the class room. You are definitely not responsible enough and I can honestly say that I would not trust you to have animals any where near my child.