Ball python escaped in a high school HELP

[elevenphoenix]

I am a high school Biology teacher who recently aquired a female ball python, I'm not sure of her age, but she is may 20 inches long. I assume that she escaped from her aquarium last night because when I got to my classroom this morning, she was gone.

Myself and the students searched my entire classroom to no avail. There is a hole in the wall near her aquarium that I think she crawled into. Unless she climbed up the entire wall and above the ceiling, I think she is probably confined to a certain area (but I could be wrong).

ANY advice on how I could retrieve her? I set her heating pad and cave on the floor near the hole in the wall (doubting it will work). She was fed yesterday so using rats as bait probably won't work at this point.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. The kids and I are all devastated

[blackcrystal22]

I am a high school Biology teacher who recently aquired a female ball python, I'm not sure of her age, but she is may 20 inches long. I assume that she escaped from her aquarium last night because when I got to my classroom this morning, she was gone.

Myself and the students searched my entire classroom to no avail. There is a hole in the wall near her aquarium that I think she crawled into. Unless she climbed up the entire wall and above the ceiling, I think she is probably confined to a certain area (but I could be wrong).

ANY advice on how I could retrieve her? I set her heating pad and cave on the floor near the hole in the wall (doubting it will work). She was fed yesterday so using rats as bait probably won't work at this point.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. The kids and I are all devastated

In a dangerously large area like that, it's harder to say 'it'll show up' like most of us say when one escapes in a home..
Hopefully, she didn't crawl in that hole, or she's a goner. Check in cabinets in the room, and if there are any fridges, check around those.
Look under carpets, and behind things near the cage. She probably did not go too far.

Baiting, with a thawed out frozen mouse or rat, would actually be a good idea. Leave it overnight (when the snake is most active) and see if you can create a trap for the snake to curl up back in her cage.

Good luck. :[

[elevenphoenix]

I am pretty sure she's not in the classroom, I looked everywhere. Should I go ahead and set up a bait trap now even though she was fed yesterday? Any ideas on how I should assemble the trap?

I'm only half-expecting to ever see her again, but I'm trying to do everything I can to get her back.

[brett1489]

if she just ate she probably didnt go far. she is probably curled up somewhere close to where she got out and is digesting her meal. and yes it is harder to find in an school but then again u have a bunch more people that could discover her.

[blackcrystal22]

I am pretty sure she's not in the classroom, I looked everywhere. Should I go ahead and set up a bait trap now even though she was fed yesterday? Any ideas on how I should assemble the trap?

I'm only half-expecting to ever see her again, but I'm trying to do everything I can to get her back.

You could try trapping her by baiting the rat in her enclosure with the heat pack working under the cage. If she goes and eats, she will most likely hide (hopefully you have a good hide, not a log hide) in a dark spot and digest.

Just putting the cage on the floor is fine.

Snakes rarely ever leave the room if they escape. They have little energy to waste, and probably just wanted to find a warmer, darker place to hide. Usually they will be within 6ft of the enclosure when found.

Also, I doubt the snake would be able to get out of the room (closed doors in all) and not be noticed in the halls.

[elevenphoenix]

Thank you for all the advice so far.

I am 99% sure she crawled into the hole in the wall because she is definitely not hiding in the classroom. I will try to bait her aquarium tomorrow afternoon and see if I can catch her.

[blackcrystal22]

Thank you for all the advice so far.

I am 99% sure she crawled into the hole in the wall because she is definitely not hiding in the classroom. I will try to bait her aquarium tomorrow afternoon and see if I can catch her.

Remember, snakes hide better than you can look.
When my ball escaped, I tore the room completely apart. No sign what-so-ever. Turned out to be hidden in my closet (which I also tore apart) between to cold metal sheets, less then 5 ft from the cage. Go figure.

[Weapon-x]

How about an update? Wondering if she turned up yet.