Lost, in the garage

[mandalorian]

Newb here. I have had my normal bp for little over 2 yrs. This forum has helped me immensely prior to getting into the hobby. Anyhow, my dilemma is my little guy who is kept in the garage because my other half would not allow it in the house escaped last night. I cleaned his enclosure and completely forgot to secure the screen. (dummy me) I have a 2 car garage with a lexus is300 and a toyota tacoma parked inside. Both vehicles were not used yesterday so there engines were cold. I checked all the usual places around his enclosure and checked around the garage door area for any available cracks. Because I have a roll up door, there were no gaps large enough for him to wiggle through ( I used my index finger to feel around to see if it would go through.) Today, I heated up a frozen mouse and placed him in the middle of the garage with no luck. I also placed a uth wrapped in a towel under his favorite hide on a shoe self. All the times the garage door was open, I made sure he didn't try to find his way out. Living in southern Cali, the weather is still pretty warm so hoping he would come out at night. Anyone run into to this problem? I'm concerned about his welfare and my wife is pretty pissed that I was so irresponsible. I would appreciate it if no one would flame me because I already got a mouthful today from her. Anyone's trapping expertise or lost/found stories would be greatly appreciated.

[JLC]

Don't worry....many folks here have had similar experiences of forgetting to secure the enclosure. It happens.


Some thoughts:

-- Sprinkle flour over as much of the floor as is reasonable...paying particular attention along the walls and edges of things, because it is less likely he will venture out into the middle of a wide open space. (Not impossible...just less likely.) Then...if he's moving around, maybe trails in the flour will give you some clues about where he's hanging out.

-- Try the mouse again, but don't put it in the middle of the room...put it someplace near his home, but not totally out in the open.

-- The warm hide is a good idea.

-- And lastly...if there are any cracks, crevices, openings, containers, or whatever...that you dismissed in your search because they were "way too small for him to get through/into"....go back and check there. They have an amazing gift for getting themselves into or through the most incredibly tight spaces. So don't leave any crevice unsearched!

I wish you all the best in finding your little guy....and in maintaining marital harmony!

[mandalorian]

thanks, will be checking periodically tonight to see if he decides to creep out. One of my concerns is that I hope he didn't find refuge in the undercarriage of my two vehicles. How sensitive are they too heat? Only real source of heat is the water heater, water softener, small little fridge/freezer (for mice) and now the uth. Tempted to camp out in my garage tonight in a sleeping bag hoping he would join me. will try the flour thing.

[JLC]

... Tempted to camp out in my garage tonight in a sleeping bag hoping he would join me. will try the flour thing.

LOL...well, if the wife was gonna make you sleep on the sofa anyhow...

And yeah...I'd be pretty nervous about the undercarriage of the cars as well. But if they were cold, and stay cold, then hopefully he won't be attracted to them. I'd definitely check around the other heat sources you mentioned, no matter how snug or crazy it might seem.

[mandalorian]

Found him. Went in the garage last night to do one more check b4 going to bed. Checked the heat pad, not there. Looked by my truck and there he was, on my ladder slithering his way toward his enclosure. I picked him up and he was ice cold. he coiled around my arm (just got out of the shower) you could tell he wanted heat badly. Placed him in his home and went straight for his favorite hide and started to warm up. The 22 hrs he was gone was pretty nerve racking. I learned my lesson and my wife started to talk to me again. My oldest son is planning to take Sammy to his 1st grade show and tell this week. Hey JLC, thanks for all your support and making my mind at ease.

[Freakie_frog]

Congrats. Most of us have had an escape or three. Glad you found him when he gets good and destressed and warm check him good for injuries.

[joepythons]

Found him. Went in the garage last night to do one more check b4 going to bed. Checked the heat pad, not there. Looked by my truck and there he was, on my ladder slithering his way toward his enclosure. I picked him up and he was ice cold. he coiled around my arm (just got out of the shower) you could tell he wanted heat badly. Placed him in his home and went straight for his favorite hide and started to warm up. The 22 hrs he was gone was pretty nerve racking. I learned my lesson and my wife started to talk to me again. My oldest son is planning to take Sammy to his 1st grade show and tell this week. Hey JLC, thanks for all your support and making my mind at ease.

I think you might want to hold off on the show and tell at school.The reason i say this is if he is in the early stages of upper resp he needs to stay with his heat as much as possible.I am not saying he has URI ,just he could since he was without his proper heating for some time.I am glad you found him

[JLC]

YAAYYYYY! I'm SO happy for you!!


And I have to agree with what Joe said. I would postpone the show & tell for a different week. Your snake needs time to recover from his ordeal and give his immune system a chance to build itself back up and fight off any pending infections.

[mandalorian]

Copy that guys. Will hold off on the show and tell until he is back to his reg sop. thanks again

[joepythons]

Copy that guys. Will hold off on the show and tell until he is back to his reg sop. thanks again

No problem