Tips on locating an escaped snake

[BWSmith]

So you have a snake gone AWOL? Here are a few tips. Some are comon sense.

1. Don't let them escape [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
2. Look under EVERYTHING!
3. Powder Lines

Powder lines is the method that I use if I have not found the snake for a few days. What this entails is looking for EVERY possible place a snake might go, no matter how unlikely. I use flour. I put pretty tall lines of flour about every 10 feet along walls and completely around doorways and other openings. Along walls I put the line perpendicular to the wall coming out about 8-12 inches. After all, snakes TEND to hug the wall. After all the lines are down, I wait. Check it several times a day. When a snake crawls through the line, it leaves a very definate imprint on the flous (and you may even get an idea of which direction it was heading). If nothing else, I get an idea of a smaller area that the snake is in. Then i can concentrate the search and put up more lines in the specific area and narrow it even more.

Just a tip, I am sure others will add more, but I am tired and have to hunt for a kingsnake that i have narrowed down to one hole by Powder Lines [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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[reptilemama]

Good tips BW. In addition to looking under everything, look behind and on everything, too! You'd be surprised how snakes can climb. I once had a California kingsnake end up on a bathroom shelf, and I'm still not sure how she got up there!
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[Ed_r]

I like that idea. I have a Ball Python that when he gets out he goes straight for the shop vac hose. He was in there for 2 weeks once till I flooded the hose and he came out.

Just hope you dont have to track down an arboreal. Actually sometimes with arboreals it's better if your not the neetest person in the world. Just look for the knocked ofer clutter on the shelves and on top of cages. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]

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<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>Actually sometimes with arboreals it's better if your not the neetest person in the world. Just look for the knocked ofer clutter on the shelves and on top of cages. </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>


LOL.. That's how we found a BOA once that was awol..before we even realized she was. She knocked over a VERY expensive vase from my dresser shelf..UGH. Wasn't the clutter affect, rather the wanting to clear the shelf affect was all. Somehow, I don't think she actually got just why it was that I was yelling and swearing my head off when she did that to the vase either. She just looked at me and flicked her tongue was all.....then proceeded to climb higher to get to the top of the dresser. What a thing to wake up to... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
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[geckokid]

LOL. I have had several snakes get away and if the getaway was recent
the first thing I do is cover any slits or cracks in the room with a towel.
Then I search the room. if I have no success then i search my house.
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[jpaulson]

If you cover all the slits and and cracks, what do you do if she is already in one of them? Couldn't that keep her lost longer, perhaps for good?
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[gixxer6]

I would usually first try behind the fridge or stove, these places are warm and will attract snakes that have gone awol. If it cannot be found i would take a mouse put it in a box and leave the box in the room overnight, it will lure the snake out.
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[BWSmith]

Snake usually wont just stay int he bo unless you use a funnel trap design, though.
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[SnakePool]

The last 2 snakes that escaped, I found in a bag of cypress mulch. Put a few dark boxes with fresh cypress mulch in a few places.
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[Dragonfly]

They only sanke that has escaped that was small enough to escape, I never say again... The only place we can figure they she went was out the window (had a little hole in the screen) and fell 2 1/2 stories.
Was a real bummer, beautiful High Pink RTB.
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