Strange things at the shelter

[mrblanche]

We see some odd animals come into the shelter. Sometimes owners turn them in, and sometimes they're found as injured or stray animals. Birds are taken to a conservation group in Wilmer, TX. Wild rabbits are treated and released into the wild.

However, this week, someone found a large ball python in their garage! He's at the shelter now. Big boy, 4-5 feet long. And no one has come looking for him in the alloted time (3 business days), so he's ours now, to dispose of. I think the Animal Control officer may keep him; he's a big snake fan.

 

[addiebee]

Ugh... people have a tendency to get these kinds of exotics w/o really understanding what's involved and when it proves to be to much... they dump them.

These reptiles are not native to the US... and I saw a story on Animal Planet that they are wrecking havoc with wildlife and native species there in the Everglades... including gators!!!

 

[bastetservant]

We had a ball python at the high school where I taught biology years ago. His name was Houdini . . . and you can figure out why. He'd be missing for weeks (and this happened over and over), only coming out when he wanted the humans to feed him a rodent. Though he belonged in another lab, he would appear anywhere. So I was always wary of reaching into all those cupboards in my lab room. I don't appreciate snakes.

Robin

 

[jcat]

We had one get into our cellar a couple of years back. The police came and picked it up and took it to a shelter after the zoo said they had no interest. The cops figured somebody abandoned it when it got too big (we live in a cul-de-sac, so a "perfect" place to dump unwanted animals).

The last time I checked the shelter's website it was still there (probably along with the cat carrier I'd put it in - I never did get that back).

 

[momto3boys]

Ohhhhhh I'd love to find a ball in my garage

Snakes are AMAZING escape artist, alot of times these snakes get out of the house on their own. I don't think people let their ball pythons go as they don't get very big, it's usually burmese pythons or retics that people let go into the wild.

Balls are such a nice, calm snake, hopefully he likes his new home!!

 

[wildkitty]

Mine escaped for two weeks once, found him in a drawer sneaking around.... I then invested in a lock for his cage.

 

[feralvr]

YIKES!!! I would freak at the site of that snake. Snakes give me the heebie jeebies

. Yes, that is the first I have ever heard, a snake at the shelter

 

[mrblanche]

Just got home from shelter morning. The snake is still there. I took a photo, and I hope to get it up later this week.

I also took a baby dove over to Wilmer where there is a bird rehab center. Fascinating place; I've never stood that close to hawks, owls, pelicans, great blue herons, etc.

By the way, I specifically asked about their experience with cat-injured birds. They said the get a LOT of birds that have been caught by a cat but taken away by the owner, especially when fledgelings are leaving the nest.

 

[whisky'sdad]

I worked with Ball Pythons at camp(among others). The kids really liked the way they ball up in your hand. I have no problem with snakes even though I've been bitten a couple times, but only during feeding times and most were my mistake.