Snake in the refrigerator

[Tallpine]

Well, part way that is...

We have this old frig that we keep over at the corral as a cabinet to store some grain, halters, grooming tools, etc.  We had some problems with mice getting into it.

Now, a gopher snake has crawled part way into a hole behind the freezer, apparently looking for mice, and become stuck. 

We tried to get it out this morning without success.  Its head is somewhere in the lining/air duct of the frig, and its scales keep it from backing out.

So I guess either:

1) it will die there 

2) "Winnie" will lose enough weight so he/she can back out or we can pull it out

3) we will have to dismantle the frig to free it 


I hate for creatures to die a slow death 

[charby]

option #3

[Hawkmoon]

Detcord.








(Someone had to say it.)

[Harold Tuttle]

pour on olive oil

[seeker_two]

Detcord.








(Someone had to say it.)

Along that vein.....nuke it from orbit...it's the only way to be sure....

[BridgeRunner]

No ideas on the snake, but around here, utility co's will pay $30-35 for an old fridge.  That could cover the cost of a storage solution lest prone to pest-trapping.

[taurusowner]

Leave it for another day.  Snakes are some of the most flexible and adaptable creatures on the planet, with good reason. I would be very surprised if he did not find a way to contort himself out of there overnight.  Also, most snakes can live a long time without eating, but he will get thinner the longer he goes without eating.   This may help him get out as well.

Back when I used to keep snakes, I had a ball python get out of his cage while I was transporting him in my van and he tangled himself up inside one of the seats.  I ended up just grabbing my iPod and sat in the van for about 4 hours til he let himself loose.

[MechAg94]

You sure he didn't just eat something and then not be able to get out again?  He might get away once his food is digested.

My Dad used to have some guniea birds in a chicken coop.  The snakes would get into through the chicken wire to eat chicks or eggs, but not be able to get back out because they were too fat. 

[taurusowner]

You sure he didn't just eat something and then not be able to get out again?  He might get away once his food is digested.

My Dad used to have some guniea birds in a chicken coop.  The snakes would get into through the chicken wire to eat chicks or eggs, but not be able to get back out because they were too fat. 

That would be hilarious to see if it didn't mean you lost some chickens.

[Tallpine]

We pulled out the back liner of the freezer last nite.  Snake had several dead mice in there on top of the cooling unit coils.  He/she had gotten in through one of the factory holes for an icemaker.  It's about a third of the way through.

We tried to help it slither on through, but no luck.  Finally, we just tied the freezer door open and left it overnight to see if it could wriggle free by itself.

[White Horseradish]

And here I was thinking this was about an upcoming Samuel L. Jackson sequel...

[Tallpine]

It was still stuck this morning.

We're gonna go ride in a little while and check and see how it's doing.

I don't want to cut a live snake in half just to get it out of there 

Might have to euthanize it somehow... 

[taurusowner]

How difficult would it be to loosen up the fridge parts that are holding him in place?

[Tallpine]

How difficult would it be to loosen up the fridge parts that are holding him in place?

No parts left to loosen.

It's partway through a hole in the back left by the factory for running a water line to an icemaker.

A Sawzall would be the only way, and GrandpaShooter thinks the vibration would kill the snake.  Even if not, it would still have a "doughnut" around its middle. 

[vaskidmark]

Seriously, what's the rush in getting the snake out?

Or do you need to construct some sort of ledge to support it as it slims down before exiting?

And given that it's not endangering anybody (yet), and you really need to remove it, why not invest in some lubrication and push it forwards?  Besides, I've always wondered if gopher snakes, being related somehow to pythons, have the same response to untoward manipulation.  http://thelawdogfiles.blogspot.com/2006/02/squeaks-part-deux.html "Now, the Discovery Channel will tell you that, when disturbed, some species of snake ...."

If you decide to go for it, you must tell the story at least as well as LawDog did.

stay safe.

[Jim147]

That's a service call I've never had before.

I've heard about the dryer that rattles when you walk by it. And the black snake that got caught in a washer belt.

I think if I walked in, pulled the cover off and had a snake looking at me, I would close the freezer door, pick up my tools and tell the customer to have a nice day.

jim

[Jamisjockey]

THERE'S MOTHER******* SNAKES IN THE MOTHER******* REFRIDGERATOR!

[Tallpine]

We got "Winnie" out safely by cutting into the outside and inside shells of the frig with tin snips - or I should say that GrandpaShooter did while LadyPine and I held the ends of the snake out of the way.

Relieved just a little of the bind by cutting out the material between the two holes, and Winnie was able to slither on through.  We let him/her crawl under the haystack (which is on pallets) where there should be lots of mice.  Mabye he/she will spend the winter there. 

I think the snake was understanding that we were trying to help it by the end. 

why not invest in some lubrication and push it forwards?

We had already tried that and it wasn't working.  The grain of the scales kept it from backing out, and the thickest part wasn't even into the holes yet.

[charby]

We got "Winnie" out safely by cutting into the outside and inside shells of the frig with tin snips - or I should say that GrandpaShooter did while LadyPine and I held the ends of the snake out of the way.

Relieved just a little of the bind by cutting out the material between the two holes, and Winnie was able to slither on through.  We let him/her crawl under the haystack (which is on pallets) where there should be lots of mice.  Mabye he/she will spend the winter there. 

I think the snake was understanding that we were trying to help it by the end. 

Awesome, I hope the snake hammers your rodent residents.

[Tallpine]

Awesome, I hope the snake hammers your rodent residents.

Well, there's an old Scottish saying: "may the wee mouse never leave you cupboard with a tear in its eye."

But snakes gotta eat too. 

[Jamisjockey]

THERE'S MOTHER******* SNAKES IN THE MOTHER******* HAY STACK!

[roo_ster]

THERE'S MOTHER******* SNAKES IN THE MOTHER******* HAY STACK!

The Samuel L Jackson School of Elocution is a big believer in the power of the asterisk.

[MechAg94]

THERE'S MOTHER******* SNAKES IN THE MOTHER******* HAY STACK!

I have never seen that movie.  Is is supposed to be a comedy or was it serious? 

[Jamisjockey]

I have never seen that movie.  Is is supposed to be a comedy or was it serious? 

I'm still not sure.  Iv'e seen parts, but not all. 

[charby]

I have never seen that movie.  Is is supposed to be a comedy or was it serious? 

Samuel Jackson hangs out with Hutterites in Snakes in a Haystack

The Minister and the Secretary take Jackson to the wood shed for some serious beating due to his foul mouth and the Assitant Minister films it.