Family Caught a Wild Snake - Can I Return It to the Wild?

Hey folks,

My dog some how cornered a brown snake here in Raleigh, NC earlier this week. My wife not knowing what kind of snake it was put a bowl over it and one thing led to another and the snake has made it inside the house. It is a brown snake, a mature one from what I can tell at ~ 12 inches long. The question is, I need to get this guy back to his world. The problem is, it is only getting into the 40's during the day and into the 20's at night. Do I have to keep this guy all winter, or is there a strategy for releasing him in the winter?

Many thanks everyone!

If the snake was out this week, i'm sure its safe to let him go.


Here is a link, just e-mail this guy and see what he says.
Herpetology Laboratory at Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina - Michael E. Dorcas

OK, unless anyone else says otherwise... I'm turning him loose down by the creek at lunch time tomorrow.

Thanks for the response.