The black rat snake that showed his head yesterday (as I posted in: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=63167) was hanging out under our deck (only 8" off the ground) today. I pulled him out. I kept looking at his infected abcess, feeling like I've just got to do something for this poor guy. The spot is sensitive to touch, but not extraordinarily so. He does not attempt to bite or escape when it is touched. Here are the pictures, it's yellow, puffy, full of liquid (I think I saw some puss oozing out yesterday), and has a lump in the middle. I suspect it's an injury that got infected. But not sure. It's definitely an infection of some kind.



(That's red ink on my finger, not blood.)

I have some oral Zythromax left over for treating our ball python's URI. Should I capture this BRS next time I see him and treat him in captivity, then release him when he's better? Should I try to treat him with antibiotics whenever I can find him over the next few weeks? Should I capture him and take him to a vet or wild life rehabilitator?

Any advice, thoughts, philosophies on ethics would be appreciated. I plan on researching what the law is on catching wild herps in my area.

Thanks!