News from across the country about the constant migration of wildlife and the introduction and proliferation of non-native species into the Florida ecosystem.

Snake Trapped in a Beer Can [News Blog]

 

Stewart Gannt – News for Kids

A TIGER snake with a taste for Australian beer found itself trapped while trying to drink from a can this week.

The venomous* reptile slithered into the can in Wyndham Vale in Melbourne’s western suburbs and became stuck.

Stewart Gatt — aka Stewy the Snake Catcher — said its head was trapped.

 

Stewart Gatt, the snake catcher, frees the tiger snake from a beer can. Supplied image
Stewart Gatt, the snake catcher, frees the tiger snake from a beer can. Supplied image

 

The residents who found the snake in trouble tried to free it themselves. Not a wise move as getting the snake free was not easy — even for a professional.

“It was awkward*,” Mr Gatt said.

“The snake was in enough it was stuck in the can. If you cut the wrong spot you could hurt the snake. It is a very delicate* situation.”

Mr Gatt tried to reassure the snake that he was there to save it, not that it helped.

“Yeah mate, I know you are in pain. Just relax for a minute,” he said in the video.

“Stop struggling for a minute. Relax mate, I am saving you.”

The residents who found the snake in trouble tried to free it themselves. Not a wise move as getting the snake free was not easy — even for a professional.

“It was awkward*,” Mr Gatt said.

“The snake was in enough it was stuck in the can. If you cut the wrong spot you could hurt the snake. It is a very delicate* situation.”

Mr Gatt tried to reassure the snake that he was there to save it, not that it helped.

“Yeah mate, I know you are in pain. Just relax for a minute,” he said in the video.

“Stop struggling for a minute. Relax mate, I am saving you.”

TO READ OUR POST ON THE 4 NON – NATIVE VENOMOUS SNAKES THAT LIVE IN  FLORIDA CLICK HERE 

SNAKE REMOVAL EXPERTS: Available 24/7

Call 1-866-263-WILD!

Nuisance Wildlife Removal Inc is local, family owned and fully licensed and insured. 

 

The snake with its head stuck deep inside the can. Supplied imageThe tiger snake tied to bite the can. Supplied image

 

WORRIED ABOUT SNAKES? Call 1-866-263 WILD!

Or easily contact us by clicking here. 

As Mr Gatt cut a hole in the can, the snake popped its head through and tried to bite the can.

“Snakes are deaf so I have no idea why I was doing it. I was talking myself through it really,” Mr Gatt said.

“I do not know what the fascination* with snakes and cans is. He was thirsty and probably wanted a dark spot and once he sticks his head in, he cannot stick his head out again.”

Mr Gatt has been caring for the tiger snake since the rescue and is expected to release the animal this week.

“We are going to make sure there are no ongoing injuries,” he said.

Tiger snakes are highly venomous, quick to bite when cornered and very common around most of Victoria, much of New South Wales, far southeast Queensland, Tasmania, southeast South Australia and southwest Western Australia.

 

 Nuisance Wildlife Removal, Inc. is very well known in the community as the GO-TO expert with the highest experience level in solving difficult insect and pest infestations efficiently and easily. We employ advanced technology such as thermographic cameras and Go-pro technology. This reduces the amount of damage to your structure and this will reduce the overall cost of your project.  

Nuisance Wildlife Removal Inc
1329 10th Street East Palmetto, Florida 34221
(941) 729-2103

 

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Reptile Rescuer Accused of Abandoning Snakes, Spiders at Warehouse [News Blog]

Steve Breinholt, Deseret News
Dozens of venomous snakes, poisonous spiders, alligators, turtles and other creatures are pictured at a warehouse at 641 W. 6960 South in Midvale on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. In a phone interview from his hospital bed at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray on Wednesday, James Dix, owner of Utah’s Reptile Rescue Service, said he had a heart attack and that is why he hasn’t been able to care for dozens of venomous snakes, poisonous spiders, alligators, turtles and other creatures at he left at the warehouse.

Nuisance Wildlife Removal, Inc. is your expert for snake removal in Sarasota County.

Call today to talk with a professional wildlife technician.

For more information or a FREE estimate call 1-866-263-WILD or 941-729-2103.

 

MIDVALE — A well-known reptile rescuer is under investigation, accused of abandoning dozens of venomous snakes, poisonous spiders, alligators, turtles and other creatures at a Midvale warehouse for two weeks.

James Dix, owner of Utah’s Reptile Rescue Service, denies abandoning the animals at the warehouse at 641 W. 6960 South. In a phone interview from his hospital bed at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Dix said he had a heart attack and that is why he hasn’t been able to care for the animals. He is currently listed in serious condition.

Despite this, county and state officials say dealing with Dix has been an ongoing saga since the summer.

“Twenty years of my life I’ve dedicated, and now they’re just trying to destroy the rescue and flush it down the toilet,” Dix said.

Deseret News archives

James Dix, owner of Reptile Rescue Service, holds several Albino Burmese Pythons Friday Feb. 18, 2011.

Dix left the roughly 100 critters at the warehouse on Jan. 22, according to workers.

“He promised to have these animals out of here in two days,” said Kyle Workman, one of the workers. “It’s been two weeks-plus.”

Workman said Dix had only returned once since that time, and several of the workers had tried to feed and care for the reptiles themselves over concerns of their well-being, despite little experience of how to do so.

He characterized the situation as Dix, a subcontractor for the organization, essentially dropping the reptiles in the workers’ laps.

 

FOR SNAKE TRAPPING AND REMOVAL

IN SARASOTA CALL 1-866-263-WILD

Or easily contact us by clicking here. 

For more info from a veterinary source click here 

 

“It more or less came down to, ‘You will watch these animals,’” Workman said. “‘You employ me, you are obligated to help me.’”

Dix said he got permission from his boss to bring the animals to the warehouse and that his ex-girlfriend was told by the boss that he had no problems having the animals stay a few more days.

Dix said he had to suddenly move the animals out of a building in Magna because the owner got tired of dealing with the Salt Lake County Zoning and Ordinance rules. She sold the building, and the new owner wouldn’t let him stay there. He said he moved them to the Midvale location and only planned on staying there for four or five days while they found another building.

Steve Breinholt, Deseret News

A snake is pictured at a warehouse at 641 W. 6960 South, Midvale, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. In a phone interview from his hospital bed at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray on Wednesday, James Dix, owner of Utah’s Reptile Rescue Service, said he had a heart attack and that is why he hasn’t been able to care for dozens of venomous snakes, poisonous spiders, alligators, turtles and other creatures at he left at the warehouse.

“We were going to move them Friday, and I wound up having a heart attack on the road and had to go to the hospital,” Dix said.

Workman said he ultimately contacted Salt Lake County Animal Services.

“See, one of the lizards has died,” Workman said, pointing to a carcass Tuesday. “We’ve had a few turtles perish.”

Dix said he had friends feeding the critters while he was in the hospital.

Wednesday morning, workers with Salt Lake County Animal Services assessed and removed the creatures from the Midvale location with the help of experts from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Inside the warehouse was an SUV belonging to Dix that was marked with caution signs about venomous snakes and reptiles inside.

Salt Lake County Animal Services spokeswoman Callista Pearson said Tuesday that Dix was already under investigation for suspicion of animal cruelty and abandonment after workers roughly two weeks ago removed and relocated nearly 150 animals from a space in Magna that Dix had been occupying. Pearson said a quarter of the animals appeared to be undernourished.

“It looked to us as if he had not fed or watered them for an extended period of time,” Pearson said.

Dix denies it.

“I didn’t know anything about that, but we are a rescue and some stuff comes in rough, and moving animals in the winter affects them, can put them in shock, hypothermia because they are all temperature related,” he said.

Pearson said the case would ultimately have to be screened by county prosecutors.

Dix, who was awaiting surgery Thursday, said it was not unusual for his service to receive animals that were undernourished, and he suggested that the recent matter in Magna was simply part of an ongoing dispute with the county.

He maintained that the animals he had were generally well-cared for.

Comment on this story“This is 20 years of dedicated service to the state of Utah and all the cities and counties who relied on me,” Dix said. “This has cost me thousands and thousands of dollars dedicated to whenever they call 24/7, 365 days a week, and the last thing we would do is just leave our animals and walk away from it. That’s not what happened.”

Workman said the reptiles left at the warehouse would likely receive better care if turned over to animal services.

“This is not the environment for these reptiles,” Workman said. “It’s not our responsibility as a business owner to take care of rescued animals.”

 

Nuisance Wildlife Removal Inc
1329 10th Street East Palmetto, Florida 34221
(941) 729-2103

 

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Keeping Pets Safe from Snakes

Avoiding a Snake Encounter

To avoid snakes is really a rather difficult task. The main suggestion given is to try to keep the pet indoors as much a possible during the season when snakes are highly active.  According to the school of veterinary medicine that is April -October.  However this is likely very difficult to impossible for many pet owners.

Well, as far as snakes are concerned- keep in mind that most snakes want to be left alone… However when a curious pup comes along sniffing every hole in the ground, tree trunk, and leaf pile, BOOM they can get a strike from a serpentine creature that neither of you were planning on.

It is possible that your dog would be out playing when such an encounter occurs– and so, you might suddenly find your pet in distress, and not doing well. But, if you ARE with your pup walking on a trail, etc when a snake bite occurs.. Try to get a picture of the snake for reference. If your pet has been bitten, seek medical care for it immediately.

dog on leafy trail

 

If your pet is acting unwell — the animal might be in shock. The following actions are recommended to treat your pet and keep them safe. You must act quickly to give your dog the best chance for a full recovery.

EXAMINE

Examine the dog or cat, by looking him over closely. Probe the back and down the legs.

Take note of any swollen areas.

—if you do NOT see a laceration, scratch etc., the culprit causing the issue is not visible so, therefore, could be a bite.

Carry the animal to a clean smooth area such as a tile floor, where you have good lighting.

Examine and look for puncture wounds they will likely have blood coming out.

If it has been bitten by a venomous snake, the swelling will be apparent and move rapidly up the leg.

 

Nuisance Wildlife Removal, Inc. is your expert for snake removal in Sarasota County.

Call today to talk with a professional wildlife technician.

For more information or a FREE estimate call 1-866-263-WILD or 941-729-2103.

 

SOME SYMPTOMS

Animal is not acting like theirself

The animal yelps/cries out in pain

Swelling on the paws, face or legs

Weakness

Collapse

Drooling

Vomiting

Disorientation

Difficulty Breathing

 

FOR SNAKE TRAPPING AND REMOVAL

IN SARASOTA CALL 1-866-263-WILD

Or easily contact us by clicking here. 

WHAT TO DO

Restrict the animal’s activity – this will reduce the effect of the venom.

Seek medical assistance immediately.

For more info from a veterinary source click here 

 

Nuisance Wildlife Removal, Inc. is very well known in the community as the GO-TO expert with the highest experience level in solving difficult insect and pest infestations efficiently and easily. We employ advanced technology such as thermographic cameras and Go-pro technology. This reduces the amount of damage to your structure and this will reduce the overall cost of your project.  

 

Nuisance Wildlife Removal Inc
1329 10th Street East Palmetto, Florida 34221
(941) 729-2103

 

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Snakes on a Plane for Emotional Support – News Blog

By George F. Will: Snakes on a plane for emotional support?

WASHINGTON — When next you shoehorn yourself into one of America’s ever-shrinking airline seats, you might encounter a new wrinkle in the romance of air travel. You might be amused, or not, to discover a midsize — say, 7-feet long — boa constrictor named Oscar coiled contentedly, or so you hope, in the seat next to you. Oscar is an “emotional-support animal.” He belongs to the person in the seat on the other side of him, and he is a manifestation of a new item, or the metastasizing of an old item, on America’s menu of rights. Fortunately, the federal government is on the case, so you can relax and enjoy the flight.

TO READ OUR POST ON THE 4 NON – NATIVE VENOMOUS SNAKES THAT LIVE IN  FLORIDA CLICK HERE 

snake-removal-siesta-key-FL
Rainbow Boa Constrictor

 

The rapid recent increase of emotional-support animals in airplane cabins is an unanticipated consequence of a federal law passed with the best of intentions, none of which pertained to Dexter the peacock, more about whom anon. In 2013, the Department of Housing and Urban Development told providers of public housing that the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) mandates “reasonable accommodations” for persons who require “assistance animals.”

The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 allows access to animals trained to provide emotional support. Federal guidelines say airlines must allow even emotional-support animals that have a potential to “offend or annoy” passengers, but that airlines are allowed to — let us not sugarcoat this — discriminate against some “unusual” animals.

Yet a New York photographer and performance artist named, according to The Associated Press, Ventiko recently was denied the right to board her Newark-to-Los Angeles flight with her “emotional-support peacock,” for whom Ventiko had bought a ticket.

And there is a 29-year-old traveler who insists that she cannot “think about life without” Stormy, her emotional-support parakeet. So, if Oscar’s owner says Oscar provides support, and the owner lawyers up …

SNAKE REMOVAL EXPERTS: Available 24/7

Call 1-866-263-WILD!

Nuisance Wildlife Removal Inc is local, family owned and fully licensed and insured. 

In contemporary America, where whims swiftly become necessities en route to becoming government-guaranteed entitlements, it is difficult to draw lines. Besides, lines are discouraged lest someone (or some species?) be “stigmatized” by being “marginalized.” The line JetBlue has drawn dehumanizes snakes. Yes, they are not technically human, but don’t quibble. Anyway, soon enough there will be a lobby (“Rights for Reptiles”?), and lobbies are precursors to entitlements.

JetBlue is attempting to fly between the Scylla of passengers discomforted by a duck waddling down the aisle (even though it is wearing a diaper; this has happened more than once) and the Charybdis of animal advocates who are hypersensitive to speciesism, aka anti-pet fascism.

JetBlue says that “unusual animals” such as “snakes, other reptiles, ferrets, rodents and spiders” are verboten, even as emotional-support animals.

Southwest rather sternly says that passengers accompanied by emotional-support animals had better have papers from credentialed experts certifying “a mental or emotional disability recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — Fourth Edition.” But the DSM already accords the status of disability to almost every imaginable human trait or quirk and is eager to imagine new ones.

Delta experienced a nearly one-year doubling of what it delicately calls “incidents” (urinating, defecating, biting). “Farm poultry,” hedgehogs and creatures with tusks are unwelcome on Delta, which is going to be alert regarding the booming market for forged documents attesting to emotional neediness. The Association of Flight Attendants is pleased, perhaps because one of its members was asked to give a dog oxygen because the dog’s owner said it was having a panic attack.

Now, let us, as the lawyers say, stipulate a few things. Quadrupeds, and no-peds like Oscar, have done a lot less damage to the world than have bipeds, and often are better mannered than many of today’s human air travelers. Animals can be comforting to anyone and can be therapeutic to the lonely, the elderly with symptoms of senescence, and soldiers and others suffering post-traumatic stress disorder. Studies have purported to show that people living with pets derive myriad benefits, including lower cholesterol.

But the proliferation of emotional-support animals suggests that a cult of personal fragility is becoming an aspect of the quest for the coveted status of victim. The cult is especially rampant in colleges and universities, which increasingly embrace the therapeutic mission of assuaging the anxieties of the emotionally brittle. There, puppies are deployed to help students cope with otherwise unbearable stresses, such as those caused by final exams or rumors of conservatism.

George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com

Read more: http://www.lowellsun.com/opinion/ci_31652011/snakes-plane-emotional-support#ixzz56YvYuSUv

WORRIED ABOUT SNAKES? Call 1-866-263 WILD!

Or easily contact us by clicking here. 

 Nuisance Wildlife Removal, Inc. is very well known in the community as the GO-TO expert with the highest experience level in solving difficult insect and pest infestations efficiently and easily. We employ advanced technology such as thermographic cameras and Go-pro technology. This reduces the amount of damage to your structure and this will reduce the overall cost of your project.  

Nuisance Wildlife Removal Inc
1329 10th Street East Palmetto, Florida 34221
(941) 729-2103

 

(more…)

Continue ReadingSnakes on a Plane for Emotional Support – News Blog