Apartment insanity (this is insane..!)

[Ginevive]

Mark and his business partner were cleaning up a vacant property that has been empty since last Autumn. Well.. where do I begin?
(the first part of this is pretty gross and not for the squeamish.)
They noticed a very foul smell but could not find the source.. well, they followed their noses and moved a dresser away from the wall.. there was a boa, over 8', in a deceased state.. bloated and riddled with maggots; yuck. They had to roll it into the carpet that they were throwing into the dumpster.. nasty stuff. I feel really bad that the poor snake had to die (it probably froze because no heat was on all winter in there.)
Wait though, this gets better. Guess what they found in the baseent? A very live, very real CORAL snake!! I have a photo but I can't scan till later.. Mark called the police and they refused to come down.. he took a large aquarium and put it over the snake so he can't go anywhere (this is a concrete basement..) He plans on calling the local herp society today to get someone to come and get it.. I really wish it was just a kingsnake or something; I would keep it, but I am not into venomous..! I guess that it must have survived by crawling into the furnace houseing.. and of course there would be plenty of rats/mice to eat..
So I guess this place was inhabited by an irresponsible loser of a herp.. sad. I will scan that pic later and let everyone know how this plays out.

[jkobylka]

that's sad about the boa... but i want a pic of that coral!!!

[lord jackel]

I remember my days when I lived in an apartment and used to talk to the guys that fixed and cleaned up vacant apartments and I am never amazed what people do in places that don't belong to them.


That poor snake...hopefully you live in a state with someone can keep and take care of the coral (but I am surprised the former tenant just released it into the apartment...if someone got bit they would be liable)

[Ginevive]

Here goes! I matched the head up to coral snakes online.. same thing.
Here's how it went. mark called someone from the SPCA to pick it up.. the guy went on and on over the phone about how "no poisonous snakes live in this area" (false in itself..) Mark insisted yes, this IS a coral snake, and he wanted someone to come and take it out of the basement. Well, they send some guy with gloves and a bucket!!! Mark did not even want the guy to come into the house at that point but he insisted, insisted "I know what I am doing, this is just a kingsnake, etc. etc." He went in under Mark's then-objections and placed the snake in the bucket and left. (!!!!)
I wanted him to call up the WNY herp society, but I could not find a number on their site and I had to get to work early today, so he did what he had to do. He has a crew of guys there who will not take no for an answer and would have played with the snake and gotten bitten by now.

Here's a pic.

[daniel1983]

...that does not look like a coral snake to me......what species did you identify it as?

[Laooda]

Hey Gin... all the Corals here in Tx that I have seen have an almost solid black head... and much wider bands. That might be a King of some sort??? Probably a local thing... good luck with that beauty!

Just read that they removed it...

[Freakie_frog]

This is crazy!!!! Red on yellow kill a fellow red on black venom lack..

But boys and girls thats not an eastern coral snake like you would find in your area Gen.
Wide bright red with narrow black, two or even three tone head and white and black striped tail..

It a Mexican Coral...See http://www.desertmuseum.org/programs.../TRV-A033B.jpg

Totally cool find..they probably kept hots and that one got out like the boa.


Do I win a prize?????

[Laooda]

CRAZY!!!! :eek:

[Freakie_frog]

see side by side

[TheAudOne]

Do I win a prize?????

Why yes you do!!!
Just kidding ya know I love ya...awesome job figuring out what it is!!!