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?
