Kingsnakes
Recently, a Kingsnake was admitted to Tucson Wildlife Center after becoming trapped in plastic landscape netting. As the snake struggled to free himself, the netting tightened around his body.
Snakes rely on strong muscles along their entire length to move, breathe, and swallow food, so when netting constricts those muscles, it can cut off circulation and slice into the skin. He arrived with deep constriction wounds that required medical cleaning and stitches.
When a snake is trapped for too long, the danger goes beyond skin injuries. The netting can restrict blood flow and lead to permanent tissue damage or even loss of body segments. Because the snake cannot move or hunt, it becomes severely stressed and can quickly dehydrate, overheat, or starve. Many snakes caught in netting never survive long enough to be found.
After being carefully freed, this Kingsnake was anesthetized so our medical team could thoroughly clean the wounds, remove embedded netting fibers, and place stitches. He is now recovering with daily wound care, antibiotics, and hydration support. With time, we expect him to heal and return to the wild where he plays a vital role in controlling rodent populations—nature’s best pest control.
Landscape netting might seem harmless, but for wildlife it can be a silent trap. If you already have netting installed and cannot remove it immediately, keeping it tightly stretched and weighted down helps reduce gaps where animals can get caught.
To help this snake (and other patients) heal comfortably, we are in need of medium and large reptile hideouts. Hideouts give injured reptiles a dark, secure space where they feel safe—reducing stress, promoting natural behavior, and helping them rest while they recover.
If you would like to help, these can be purchased from our Amazon or Chewy wish lists. (Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1Z0GXJXQ5KICS/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex?pldnSite=1); Chewy: https://www.chewy.com/g/tucson-wildlife-center_b137699594#wish-list&wishlistsortby=DEFAULT.) We appreciate it as will the reptiles in our care!
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Another way you can contribute is to visit our “wish list” on Amazon or Chewy below:
We appreciate it, as will all the wild animals in our care!
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