Was I right? Taking some heat...

[Cflaguy]

I can understand some situations sure...

I have a degree in wildlife management and deffinatelly see where some other people may be coming from, but I highly doubt a move of a small water snake about 1 mile will do anything negative, or positive for the area it left or went to. If it made ya feel good, then great.

I hunted the Oviedo area in the 80's and Scarlett Kings were all over the place. Been there the last two years, nada. Been hunted out.

 

[kathylove]

Cars zooming over animals doesn't seem to me like letting "nature take its course".

Logically, it would seem that moving an animal further away than it could probably wander on its own could be a bad idea, as most habitats already support the number of each species that it CAN support. And diseases can be moved around, such as the respiratory problems with gopher tortoises. But one mile does not seem to be unduly far enough to cause problems.

Since Florida is quickly being paved over, built upon, and water courses changed, I think moving a snake or two is not going to be super important in the grand scheme of things. Heck, eventually we may be HAPPY if there are some snakes left, out of place or not, or even Nile monitors or Burmese pythons around - might be the only thing left, lol! (Joking, but not completely!)

 

[cassandra]

Let nature takes it's course...then there wouldn't be paved roads, deforestation and probable climate shift due to humans inhabiting the area, which if you continue with this line of thinking means that snake wouldn't probably have been stranded nor dehydrated. Pfft.

In those questionable times when there doesn't seem to be an absolute right answer, do what you think is right and not something you'll regret having not done later. =)

 

[snakemom1961]

Great thoughts all! I just couldn't have left the poor baby alone, dehydrated and in the riske of being run over by a car. I would definatly have done the same thing!.

 

[El Jefe]

I cannot believe you took it away from its natural habitat of pavement to move it to water!!! :sidestep:

 

[snake5007]

I'm getting some geers from some of the folks at the Reptile Shack for this situation that occurred this evening after the first road cruise of the season.
They are a bit more "pure" than I am. Really into the planet and enjoying all that grows if you know what I mean.
But anywho-
This evening I found a baby Banded Water (6") crossing the road. Ordinarily not being a desirable pet snake I just set them on the other side of the road and leave. It is the dry season here in Florida and no water near him. He was slightly dehydrated. I took him to a flatwoods pond in the forest. I sat him down and he hauled a** to edge of the water. He stopped and drank for about two minutes. Then took the plunge.
Some of the folks at the Shack think I'm a horrible person. According to them I should have left him there and let nature take its course.
Just interested on opinions of today. When I was younger, we always helped animals in distrees. Have things changed?
Did I do the right thing?

I think you did the right thing. I would have done the same. :cheers: