Exposure to parasites/diseases

[Bogertophis]

Wild snakes (not to mention wild prey) are exposed to very different risks compared to our pet snakes & their domestic prey.

Unfortunately, it's very hard to just look at any of these animals & know whether or not they're healthy. Though they may not be exposed to all the same diseases that ravage pet species, wild snakes typically carry GI parasites (worms) because the prey they consume as well as the ground they slither on provides many opportunities to become a host. As far as how healthy they appear to be- seldom do we get to follow them closely & long enough to get an accurate assessment of their health & resulting lifespan. Btw, one thing currently killing wild snakes is a horrible fungal disease.

I used to rescue & relocate native snakes, & to help ensure their survival in a new location, I generally kept them for a bit to ensure they were both well-hydrated & well-fed before releasing them. I'll never forget how fast one rattlesnake digested his prey- ONE DAY! (& this was my "clean" domestic rodents btw), so I suspected he had "help"; sure enough, when I dosed him for intestinal worms, he was loaded with them. (gag! poor snake!) I de-wormed him several times (dosage on the light side for safety) while he was my houseguest, & to be honest, it took a while before I felt like eating angel hair pasta. Unfortunately very few wild snakes have access to a "free clinic".

Same goes for wild prey animals. They can be exposed to any number of toxic substances dumped intentionally by people or as runoff when it rains, not to mention toxic chemicals (gas & oil) left on roadways that contaminates the environment. When wild animals are thirsty, they drink whether or not the water is clean, because they have to for survival & don't know any better. Then there's external & internal parasites spread by other wildlife & their feces, as well as other diseases.

Your snake would likely welcome these birds as a meal, but then what if he wants more, & prefers them to the prey you have regular access to? If you have to drive a ways for pet food, you probably also don't have a good exotic vet nearby (& even if you do, consider how much they cost if -or when- you need help). Is a free lunch worth the risks? Only you can answer that, but most of us choose NOT to expose the pets we love to any unnecessary risks.