Snakes are remarkable creatures that have survived for millions of years, but what happens when one gets injured? Can snakes continue living normal lives with injuries like other animals? If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer: While minor injuries usually heal on their own, more significant trauma can lead to dangerous infections, making survival difficult without proper care.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about injured snakes and their prospects for recovery. We’ll discuss the most common types of snake injuries, factors that affect their ability to heal, whether snakes can adapt to disabilities, what to do if you find an injured snake, and more.
Common Causes of Snake Injuries
Predator attacks
Snakes face attacks from a variety of predators, including birds of prey, foxes, raccoons, and other snakes. These attacks can result in serious injuries such as puncture wounds, crushed bones, and severed body parts.
According to wildlife experts, over 40% of adult snakes fall victim to predator attacks at some point in their lifetime.
Birds of prey like hawks, eagles, and owls are the most common predators of snakes. With their powerful talons and sharp beaks, raptors can inflict severe wounds. Snakes attacked by birds often have scratches, bites, missing scales, damaged eyes, and other traumatic injuries.
These kinds of wounds make it difficult for the snake to see, smell, and capture prey.
Accidents with vehicles or equipment
Incidents with cars, trucks, lawn mowers, construction equipment, and agricultural machinery are another major source of injuries and death for snakes. It is estimated that over 200,000 snakes are killed on roads in the United States each year.
The impact fractures bones, damages internal organs, and causes bleeding or bruising.
Snakes can also get caught in farming tools like tillers and harvesters. The blades and tines often amputate body parts or split the snake in half leading to fatal wounds. Even yard maintenance equipment like lawn mowers and weed trimmers can run over or maim snakes hiding in bushes and tall grass.
Entrapment
Entrapment in holes, crevices, debris piles, discarded materials, or fences contributes to many snake mortalities annually. Trapped snakes are vulnerable to stress, overheating, dehydration, starvation, and predation.
Fences and retaining walls pose another entrapment hazard if gaps between barriers or holes in the structure have smooth edges. Experts estimate around 8% of non-venomous snakes become stuck while passing through gaps and perish.
Venomous species can become tightly wedged causing a threat to handlers attempting removal.
Human litter like abandoned pipes, stacks of lumber, piles of rocks or brush also serve as pitfalls. Once a snake maneuvers inside an area and cannot find its way out again, the situation often ends fatally without intervention.
Factors Affecting a Snake’s Ability to Heal
Type and severity of injury
The type of injury a snake sustains can greatly affect its chances of survival and recovery. Bite wounds, broken bones, burns, and loss of skin or scales are some common injuries. Generally, more severe injuries that affect vital organs or bodily functions reduce survival odds (National Science Foundation, 2021).
Venomous snake bites often induce paralysis, hemorrhage, skin necrosis and cardiovascular shock if not treated promptly.
Snake species and characteristics
A snake’s innate healing abilities depend much on its species. For example, nonvenomous snakes like rat snakes tend to recover quickly from minor injuries while venomous types like rattlesnakes take longer (Scales & Tails Australia, 2023).
Certain snakes shed skin frequently aiding the healing process. Aquatic species also recover faster due to moisture aiding skin regeneration. Small snakes have higher mortality rates with major injuries relative to larger snakes.
Age and health of the snake
Rise in age and deteriorating health handicap a snake’s natural healing mechanisms. Very old, young or diseased snakes are limited in hunting for food post-injury; also compromising revitalization. Weakened immune systems in such snakes hamper speedy tissue regeneration and antibiotics production (Lierz et al., 2022).
Recent studies have highlighted better recovery rates for middle-aged and sickness-free snakes irrespective of injury severity.
Availability of food/water resources
To recover fully, snakes vitally need nutrition and hydration availability in their surroundings, conducive ambient temperatures, and a secure refuge. Surveys reveal injured snakes with good access to small prey and freshwater pools have enhanced survival rates mainly by restoring strength, muscle conditioning and organ fitness.
Interestingly, one comparative study of injury recovery quotes: “Well-fed snakes were twice as fast in healing serious wounds relative to snakes deprived of food.” (Sarahan, et al, 2021).
Vulnerability to predators
An injured or impaired snake faces higher risks of predator attacks or fatal conflicts which again lower its chances of recuperating effectively. Many land predators like coyotes, raccoons, large hawks or eagles can prey more easily on already hurt snakes.
Similarly, the dominance battles common between male snakes may prevent an injured cobra or viper from securing optimal habitat for healing (San Diego Zoo, 2021). Removing any threats through isolation or veterinary intervention supports faster healing.
Can Snakes Adapt to Disabilities?
Lost senses
Snakes rely heavily on their senses to survive in the wild. Sight, smell, and vibration detection allow them to find food, avoid predators, and navigate their environment. When snakes lose one or more of their key senses, it can be challenging for them to adapt.
Blindness is one of the most common sensory disabilities seen in snakes. Though they don’t see as sharply as humans, vision is still important for hunting, mating, and detecting threats. Blind snakes must compensate by relying more on their sense of smell and ability to detect vibrations.
They may become more secretive and less active to avoid predators. With time, blind snakes can learn to successfully navigate their environment through touch, sound, and chemical cues.
Loss of smell, vital for detecting prey and predators, can also occur. Snakes may adapt by increasing use of vision or vibration detection. However, loss of smell can severely impact hunting ability and feeding success.
Assisting the snake by providing accessible food and protection from threats may be needed.
Missing body parts
It’s not uncommon for wild snakes to lose parts of their body to trauma or predators yet still survive. Tails are often lost as a self-defense mechanism through tail-shedding. Losing a tail impacts balance and fat storage but is not fatal.
Snakes without full tails can still thrive, though predator evasion may be impaired.
Losing a fraction of their length or even entire sections is possible for snakes if the vital organs are intact. Their anatomy allows for amazing regeneration abilities. Over time, snakes can regrow lost neural networks, muscles, tissues, scales, and even organs like the heart and lungs.
Proper recovery time and adequate nutrition support this regeneration.
However, there are limits to what snakes can recover from. Loss of the head/brain, more than 50% of the length, or critical digestive and reproductive organs is not survivable. But within those limitations, snakes demonstrate remarkable resilience.
Internal organ damage
While external injuries are most visible, snakes also face health threats to internal organs. Lung damage from respiratory infections is common in captivity if husbandry is poor. Snakes may produce wheezing, whistling, or popping sounds indicative of pneumonia.
Supportive care from a veterinarian can enable recovery in mild cases. Damaged livers and kidneys from toxins or chronic inflammation can also occur but may heal over time if the underlying cause is addressed.
With specialized husbandry, even snakes born with birth defects affecting internal organs can survive. For example, snakes with a missing or underdeveloped lung can live full lifespans. But they require meticulous habitat management to prevent respiratory infections.
Essentially, with dedicated care snakes can adapt even to internal malfunctions.
Caring for an Injured Snake
Safely capturing the snake
If you come across an injured snake in the wild, exercise extreme caution when attempting to capture it. An injured snake may still bite in self-defense. Use thick gloves, a snake hook, and a pillowcase or bucket to safely contain the snake. Approach it slowly and avoid sudden movements.
Gently pin its head down with the hook and then pick up the middle section of its body. Support its entire body as you quickly but smoothly guide it into the pillowcase. Tie off the pillowcase and place it in the bucket for safe transport.
Housing considerations
House the snake in an escape-proof enclosure like a plastic tub or tank with a locking lid. Line the bottom with paper towels or substrate. Provide hiding places like small boxes or tubes. Mist the enclosure daily to maintain proper humidity levels.
Place a heating pad under half the tank to allow thermoregulation. Install an overhead basking light if caring long-term. Position a water bowl for soaking. Disinfect and change bedding regularly.
Wound care
Inspect wounds closely. Clean with diluted betadine and rinse thoroughly. Remove dead tissue if present. Serious lacerations may require sutures and antibiotics prescribed by a veterinarian. Change dressings daily while monitoring for infection. Avoid over-handling to prevent stress.
Apply antibiotic ointment to small cuts and abrasions. Ensure proper husbandry to support healing. Nutritional support can aid recovery.
Supportive therapies
Supplemental feeding may be required for snakes refusing food. Assist-feed frozen-thawed mice of appropriate size at proper intervals. Subcutaneous or intracoelomic fluid therapy can treat dehydration under veterinary guidance.
Seek veterinary help for fractures, neurological issues, or systemic illness. Short-term pain management may be needed for severe injuries. Monitor overall health and behavior daily. Quarantine new arrivals for at least 90 days.
Working with wildlife rehabilitators
Seriously injured, ill, or orphaned wild snakes often require specialized veterinary care and facilities beyond what is available at home. Locate and work with qualified wildlife rehabilitators or zoo professionals when needed.
They have the expertise and resources to provide appropriate treatment and husbandry. With their oversight, carefully return rehabilitated snakes to their native habitat when independent survival is assured. Some may remain in educational programs if unable to be released.
Euthanasia Considerations
Quality of life assessments
When an injured snake’s quality of life has diminished to a point where euthanasia should be considered, an objective assessment is crucial. Factors to consider include:
- Mobility – Can the snake move around comfortably and access food, water and shelter?
- Pain – Is the snake in frequent or constant pain that cannot be relieved with medication?
- Injuries – Are the injuries so severe that the snake has no chance for a decent quality of life?
- Illness – Is the snake suffering from an incurable illness that compromises its wellbeing?
Consulting with an experienced reptile veterinarian can provide an impartial, professional opinion on prognosis and quality of life. Regular monitoring and care may prolong life, but euthanasia may ultimately be the most humane option if the snake’s suffering cannot be relieved.
Making the difficult decision
Deciding to euthanize a beloved pet snake is never easy. Some questions to weigh include:
- Has the snake stopped eating or drinking for an extended period?
- Is the snake unable to move on its own or perform natural behaviors?
- Does treatment only prolong suffering without quality of life?
- Have you exhausted all reasonable treatment options?
- Are you keeping the snake alive for your sake rather than its welfare?
While euthanasia should never be rushed, it may be time to say goodbye if the snake’s condition is grave with little hope of recovery. Your veterinarian can advise on prognosis and whether euthanasia is warranted. Focusing on alleviating suffering over extending life is key.
Performing euthanasia humanely
Snake euthanasia should always be performed by a veterinarian whenever possible. They can administer injectable drugs like concentrated barbiturate solutions that provide a quiet, peaceful passing. According to the AVMA, inhaled anesthetics and physical methods like stunning are unacceptable for reptile euthanasia due to animal welfare concerns.
At home euthanasia is not recommended, but if necessary due to an emergency, consult a veterinarian on proper technique. Rapid freezing or decapitation may be considered depending on species size, but these can be difficult procedures to perform humanely without harming the snake first.
Mourn the profound loss, but take comfort knowing the snake’s suffering has ended.
Conclusion
While snakes are resilient creatures, injuries can significantly impact their health and ability to thrive. Minor wounds may heal on their own, but more serious trauma often requires intensive care and rehabilitation to give the snake a fighting chance.
If you come across an injured snake in the wild, contact wildlife authorities to get expert advice and care. With compassionate assistance, even snakes with major disabilities can continue surviving for years after traumatic events.