10/07/2026
This Gopher snake, patient #26-1513, was found covered in a very sticky, gluey substance, trapped in the pretzel-like position shown in the photo. Large gobs of the glue were also stuck to the snake's chin area, as well as tail. Luckily, the snake's finder was able to quickly bring them to CWC. Rehabilitation staff quickly evaluated the snake and worked to remove all the glue as safely as possible. This meant multiple baths and work to remove the large pieces of glue, and ensure the stickiness was gone without injuring the snake further.
Fortunately, after the baths, and meticulous work by staff to ensure no glue remained on the snake, a few days later this patient was cleared to return to the wild! We always advise against using glue traps for any sort of pest control, as they can irreparably damage many different animals (birds, bats, and snakes are only a few). And if you do find an animal stuck in a glue trap, do not remove them, if possible! Instead, bring the whole trap and animal to a rehabilitator, who can work to extract the animal with minimal further injury. This Gopher snake fortunately was cleaned up quickly, and able to return to the wild, but that is often not the case with glue trap injuries!
Some alternatives to glue traps for pest control include exclusion (making the habitat unsuitable for pests), non-lethal deterrents, and promoting natural predators in your area (like owl boxes!)
If you're interested in supporting Chintimini's work with birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians, head to the link below!
Link: https://buff.ly/YtDLSFe
