My son found a small ringneck snake on our driveway this morning (we live in Northern Virginia). It is about a foot long and as big around as a pencil. It looks like something injured it (probably our cat). It has bloody wounds about 1/4 of the way up from its tail, and an area of swelling along the next few inches of its body. It is lying pretty much limp, and is holding its mouth open. It is still alive, but I don't hold out much hope for it. It seems able to move above its injury, but I suspect it is paralyzed below the injury and its spinal cord may be broken. I have put it in a container in the house and am trying to keep it warm. I have offered it water, but it's not drinking.

My question is, is there anything I can do to try to help it? If it can survive, I'm willing to help (but I'm not sure what I can do -- maybe I should just put it back outside?), and if it's going to die, I'm willing to help it with that, too, humanely (but I don't know the most humane thing to do). It does appear to be suffering, with its mouth open like that, but I don't know much about snakes.

I can try to post some pics if that would be helpful. Any advice from snake folks would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Amy

Pics would be very helpful. Since hes a wild snale be sure to wash your hands before and after handeling him as to avoid the spread of disease and parasites.

Here are a couple of pics:


I think its mouth may be open because it's in pain and is instinctually trying to bite? (Can't see its mouth in the pics, but it opens it most of the time, sometimes quite wide, and seems to be trying to bite the paper toweling).

I don't think there's much hope for the little thing...

I dont think so either. You should just let him pass outside or you can help him along...he looks like hes in pretty bad shape

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Thanks for the advice. I will see if I can break the news to my kids. They are really rooting for the poor little snake.

In death(from what Ive experienced) reptiles will usually repeat the sma epattern of body movemenets over and over, the main one being opening and closing of the mouth. Im sorry that it has to end this way for him but it seems like the most logical and humane way to go.

aww poor little guy. but it might be best for him, that doesn't look too promising.

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yes i am a she ^_^

~My Babies~

1 Rosy Boa (male) Chaos
1 Snow Corn (male) Blizzard
1 Anertherystic Corn (male) Bullet
1 Senegal Parrot (male) Shadow
2 dogs (male) Spot and Bear

Turned out the little guy died within a few minutes of my last post. Which is good, because the kids were adamant that I not help it die...

Im glad you didnt have to do the deed, and Im glad your kids love herps so much . Hopefully next time they find a snake it will be healthy.