#LIZARD SNAKE ESCAPE HOW TO#

Most of these animals prefer dark, secure, and ideally warm hiding areas (as all reptiles are ecothermic animals, meaning they cannot generate their own body heat, but instead must rely on external or ambient temperatures to regulate their bodily temperatures).

Search behind, within, on top of, underneath, or around the base of the enclosure, as well as any nearby cabinets, bookcases, dressers, couches, beds & mattresses, sofas, chairs, or other furniture as well as closets, bathrooms, laundry rooms, or other smaller rooms of the like. Begin your searches during these dawn, dusk, or nighttime hours starting from the immediate vicinity of the animal’s enclosure. Many snakes (and other reptiles) will travel along walls and baseboards rather than traverse across open areas of the residence. – Most snakes, including those that are traditionally believed to be diurnal, will often be more active at night. These can include unnecessarily loud noises, activity, other household pets, etc. – Minimize or remove any other possible disturbances that could impede your changes of locating your snake. Small snakes especially are adept at concealing themselves in unconventional locations inside the enclosure such as under substrate or carpeting (if being used), under water bowls or other furnishings, upper or lower lips or rims of enclosures, behind any wallpapers or backdrops, within any lighting or heating shrouds, or other places of the like. – Check everywhere inside the enclosure for any possible hiding places. – Open top enclosures may be suitable for other animals generally not known to be able to climb glass or enclosure walls or sides (such as turtles, tortoises, and many lizards), but some care and common sense should still be used to prevent opportunities where these animals could possibly climb or otherwise leverage themselves to be able to get outside of an enclosure (such as branches, walls or sides of inadequate height or dimensions, etc). Items such as boards, bricks, rocks, cage clips, or other makeshift latches or devices are not suitable means for preventing escapes. If using a glass terrarium for snakes, always ensure that there is a properly fitted screen or other top secured to the enclosure. There are many plastic, PVC, fiberglass, and other injection molded caging or caging systems specifically designed and manufactured for snakes to be secure, lockable, and escape proof, and are also adequately ventilated. Always conduct your research before acquiring any animal, including researching and understanding the proper enclosure or setup required for that animal. – Reptiles, and snakes especially, are escape artists.

#LIZARD SNAKE ESCAPE HOW TO#

With this said, here are some tips and information about better being able to locate your missing snake or other reptile when it does happen, and how to prevent it from occurring again in the future. In not doing so, an animal’s health and welfare can often be compromised (especially if the animal is going to be exposed to environments outside of its optimal temperature zone), as well as generate additional negative publicity towards these animals and the hobby/industry everyone wishes to avoid. Responsible pet ownership should always be the first preventative measure with regards to escapes. Assuming you live in a structurally sound residence with no open doors, windows, or other openings or gaps large enough for a snake to potentially be able to make its way through and outside, this article will primarily cover how to locate a snake indoors. Small snakes especially (such as many of the colubrids such as corn snakes, king snakes, milk snakes, and rat snakes) are especially adept at finding their way through small spaces and being able to escape.Īlthough they are not guaranteed to work in finding your snake in every situation or circumstance, this article will provide some additional tips and information about understanding a snake’s biology when it comes to them escaping that can better increase your likelihood of locating your missing pet. In a vast majority of instances, escapes happen due to human error with regards to using an improper enclosure or setup for snakes that is not sealed adequately, has large enough gaps to allow for escape, is otherwise not escape proof, or even leaving the enclosure door or top open. One very commonly asked question or request for advice among pet owners and keepers with reptiles that is asked both online and in person is what to do or where to look for an escaped pet snake.

Lizard snake escape