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Tina P.
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| Posted: Aug 18 2006 at 12:19am | IP Logged
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My 12 yos found a snake traveling on his way from our neighbor's garden across the street into our yard! After hearing that it was a blow snake (aka a western hognose, as I found out with a little research) and was not poisonous, he picked up this 5-foot wraparound creature and begged me to keep it.
With more research, I found that hognoses peak at about 4 feet (so what was this thing that my son had in his hands?). I also found out that in some states, hognoses are endangered and so are better left alone. We even asked a Petco reptile expert who said that once free snakes who are captured are likely to starve themselves to death because they don't want to eat already dead food.
My boy kept him until his dad came home so that he could show the snake off. Then, amidst a few tears,  we let him go in our garden. Apparently, they keep the rodent population down, which is a very good thing for those of us with large gardens.
Now Alex wants to buy a corn snake, which is also supposed to peak at about 4 to 5 feet. I have mixed feelings.  I want to let him have something he can be responsible for ... we sort of stole his Shunbunkin goldfish and put him in the 75 gallon tank. And then he had to let go of a kitten when we moved to Germany. Oh! And there was the goldfish incident ~ a most tragic and traumatic death. But he has a puppy who already doesn't get enough of his attention and I most emphatically do not want a snake in the house ... especially since we just acquired a couple of guinea pigs. 
Any thoughts?
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Aug 18 2006 at 7:26am | IP Logged
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Well,if you are going to get a snake, corn snakes are nice, as are milk snakes. My concern would be for the guinea pigs!LOL! But I have to agree with you that if the puppy is already neglected, it doesn't make much sense to get another animal. (My kids are having to face some tough choices right now about our horses, which they do not ride enough). Perhaps there is some way you could encourage him to take more interest in the puppy instead? I saw a neat kit Fun With Your Dog that involves fun science experiments you do with your dog, including making home-made doggie treats. Maybe that will take his mind off the snake? Perhaps a trip to the local herpetarium to appease him or he could do some voluteer work at a pet store feeding the snakes (so he will see what it is really like).
Just some ideas.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Shari in NY
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| Posted: Aug 18 2006 at 9:17am | IP Logged
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Tina,
My boys are always finding snakes in the yard which we admire then release  . I, for one could not sleep knowing there was five feet of snake in the house, benign or otherwise!!
To any snake experts reading this thread...will a non-rattler shake its tail while striking? My boys found what appeared to be a milk snake in the leaf compost pile while looking for red wrigglers. Not appreciating being forked up with the leaves this snake (aproximately 5 feet long--I didn't see it myself) coiled, waved its tail and struck repeated at the fork. I think this is normal snake behavior but my boys are convinced they found an immature rattle snake in our western New York state yard!! Please reassure me
Shari
mom to six, ages 23 to nearly 7
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Aug 18 2006 at 10:41am | IP Logged
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I've had hognoses shake their tails at me before.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Sarah
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| Posted: Aug 18 2006 at 4:37pm | IP Logged
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My 7 yo was just bit by a garter snake 2 days ago and it broke the skin and bled. I guess I didn't know they could be so aggressive! I never warned him. . .oops. He was so shaken by it he couldn't sleep that night, awoke at 2am and couldn't get back to sleep. It also scared him that it was lunging at his 3yo sister. But, he's over it now and all is well. A good lesson learned!
SO, I wouldn't want a snake pet either. That is so hard when kids think they want a pet, but already have some. The TWO ( dog and bird)pets in out house are now MINE, since they don't get much attention. In my experience, the thrill wears off as soon as they realize the work involved.
I would see if you can foster more love for the dog. There are LOTS of good boy & dog books out there.
The kit listed above sounds neat--fun with your dog.
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Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
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Shari in NY
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| Posted: Aug 19 2006 at 8:26am | IP Logged
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We've also had garters break the skin!! Snakes are not my favorite things but at least they don't fly around your head like bats!!! Thanks, Theresa, I feel better.
Shari
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Snake in our yard! In the house too?
