Rat Snakes – The Impatient Ones

If you are a rescuer in India, Rat Snakes (Ptyas mucosa, Linnaeus, 1758) will be the most common reptiles you would be called to handle. Though completely non-venomous, rat snakes can be quite difficult, especially if you are a new to the job. In fact after having worked with reptiles for more than 5 years now, I still try to avoid a ‘rat’ call! Ask any senior rescuer and I believe that the feedback would be quite the same :)

Apart from being too intolerable, rat snakes can give a nasty bite. Handling them requires more than just securing their tail end. They are also the most difficult of snakes to be guided into baggers. So what can you do to save yourself the bite and ensuring that the snake is unharmed?

There is a unique technique to handling rat snakes. They like their freedom more than anything else. If you are holding them too tightly, they will get easily panicked and the jerk can be tormenting. Trained rescuers will allow the reptile slither along – not out of the hands but still to supposed freedom!  If you are more comfortable on your right arm, start with your palms under the snake, around one-third distance from its neck.  Your other palm will be under the belly, around the two-third mark. Allow the reptile to move ahead, gently and gradually releasing it from the hind grip. Soon, you will have the tail in your hind grip depending upon the length of the snake. Also, by this time your forward grip would have moved backwards. This is when you use the (previous) hind grip to control the snake in the first one-third mark again. You need to repeat this motion for some time, before the snake calms down and you feel comfortable to be able to guide the snake into a well placed bagger.

Confidence is the key to handling rat snakes. Rescue trainers will always start teaching reptile handling with rat snakes because of two reasons. First they are non-venomous and a mistake in handling wouldn't be life threatening and secondly, they require the maximum patience. Once you have mastered handling rat snakes, other common reptiles would seem easy!

Rat snakes are among the fastest diurnal snakes in India. You can rarely run after and catch one depending upon the location and of course your agility. Another not-so-good thing about handling rat snakes is the typical ‘murky’ small they leave on your skin. Even after thorough washes, the smell can stick on and is quite repulsive. So, if you are going to a rescue before having your lunch, try to handle them the least or better wear gloves!

I would like to add another interesting thing about rat snake rescues in India. Though all snakes are considered venomous or at least a threat; most localities recognize rat snakes (dhaman) as un-harming. It is just the notion that a snake is around their locality that makes them panic. So, when you go to a rescue and see a rat snake being cornered, try to address their logical thinking. Make them understand that a rat snake in the locality is nothing to be worried about and that they will only help by clearing our rodents and toads. If you get to convince, there couldn't have been a better mission but if you couldn't, at least you tried. Rat snakes should be released as close to the capture site as possible. I like to sneak into the locality in late at night and release it discretely!

Important notes:

1. Don’t get overconfident (with any amount of training).
2. Never restrain the snake too far towards the tail end. The death roll can be 'amputating'.
3. There is no bravery in getting bitten.
4. Bag the snake as soon as you can (no need for display or selfies just because they won’t give a fatal bite).
5. Try convincing the locals for an immediate release in the locality itself.
6. If the above doesn't work, always stick to a 1 km radius (from the location it was rescued) to release the snake.
7. Wash your hands well!