Escaped eight foot long retic eats possum in PA

[Bogertophis]

I was mostly asking as I have never seen a 6 ft snake in person so its a bit hard to visualize how big they really are...

Just picture a snake that's as long as a bed...most beds are about 6' long. Of course, if the snake isn't straight & it's that long, you know it's over 6'...

The more slender species don't look like they'd be "that long!" when they're curled up...it's kind of surprising to see them stretch out. Like my big male FL rat snakes...
they're about 7' now, but not so heavy...much more manageable in terms of weight than a heavier-bodied snake of the same length would be. They can all tangle you
up pretty well though...rat snakes can improvise some pretty fine "hand-cuffs". Ask me how I know...

[Luvyna]

Wow that's a crazy big meal! I can't believe this retic managed to open its mouth wide enough to get that possum in Can a snake be injured by swallowing something too big? I would be worried if my snake had a bulge like that

[wnateg]

Wow that's a crazy big meal! I can't believe this retic managed to open its mouth wide enough to get that possum in Can a snake be injured by swallowing something too big? I would be worried if my snake had a bulge like that

From what I understand, snakes can regurgitate if the prey is too big, and that could possibly kill them.

[Bogertophis]

Wow that's a crazy big meal! I can't believe this retic managed to open its mouth wide enough to get that possum in Can a snake be injured by swallowing something too big? I would be worried if my snake had a bulge like that

They can & have been injured by over-doing it, but not usually. They can also be injured by regurging it. That's why I HOPE this one keeps it down now.

[RickyNY]

Thank you bcr for sharing this, my wife and I enjoyed the link and the whole story.
I told Maru that snakes are such awesome hunters... to be able to get close to the Possum and eat it. And she said "I wonder if the Possum was playing dead". LOL

[303_enfield]

I don't think it ate an opossum. I deal with the egg thieving, chick an rabbit killing overgrown rats nightly. If it was an opossum it was a monster one. Now, it is big enough to be a coon.

Glad the snake is safe. Wonder if I could adopt it? Worth the drive

[Bogertophis]

...Glad the snake is safe. Wonder if I could adopt it? Worth the drive

I'm sure they'd love to find it a good home...check their website (Forgotten Friend) to pre-apply (& see what their requirements are)
& please do make a thread about it if you do adopt.

[Skyrivers]

Wow. That snake won't need to eat again until next year.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/loc...7118cbf15.html

Yep in the wild they eat almost anything within reach. In captivity they can be picky because they know food will come. She looks healthy so now she has heat should be ok. Someone's pet most likely.

[Reinz]

I don't think it ate an opossum. I deal with the egg thieving, chick an rabbit killing overgrown rats nightly. If it was an opossum it was a monster one. Now, it is big enough to be a coon.
.....................

Sounds like you may have missed the part where they X-rayed the snake.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Great another irresponsible idiot bringing more negative light on snake keepers