I live in Orlando, Florida and I work in Sanford. On the job on numerous occasions, I have seen rat snakes in a large wooded area along with rats and squirrels. I own two rat snakes that were captive bred, but they are getting big fast and not really interested in keeping them anymore because if their active nature and nippiness. Not sure if I should of started a thread on this because I'm pretty sure of the response I'll be getting but, is it so bad to release snakes into their native habitat, even if they were captive bred? Just wanna hear some different opinions.

I live in Eustis which is right outside Orlando(about 30miles) If you really dont want them anymore i would come and get them. I will be in Orlando next week saturday for the repticon and could stop by. I would take them in . What are they rats or corns , just asking .Some people call corns red rat snake, but i guess you know that. Let me know how big they are and how much /what / how they eat so i can get ready.Maybe you could send me a pic too.My email addy is my rep.room name @yahoo.com or just contact me via p.m.. Please dont release them, you dont want them to get eaten by the FOX35 hawks.

I also live in Orlando and teach 2nd grade. I could possibly take them off your hands or find someone who will . I would not suggest releasing them into the wild.

I would not release the snake into the wild if it is CB. It has been bought up in captivity and would probably not survive in the wild. There are many good snake keepers you could adopt it out to (check out the adoption section).

Never release a captive bred snake in to the wild it will not survive!!! Jimi

If this is true, then why do we have a steady population of Burmese Pythons in southern Florida? I think they can easily surivive in the wild, as long as it's the snake's natural habitat. Or very identical to it. Not trying to encourage releasing captive snakes into the wild, but, I tend to disagree with the whole "captive animals forget how to function in the wild" thing.

Ok you are possibly right but Ive never been to Florida so Im at a loss on this one. Jimi

Look, we cannot TELL you what to do with your snake its upto you, but if you want your snake to live a healthier life, i'd adopt it out.

Yes, it's bad.

While a snake doesn't lose it's instincts on hunting, hiding, etc, there is a big risk of introducing the wild population to some disease or 'bug' that your captive bred snakes might have. Think of it in the same way of when the Europeans came over and disease wiped out a huge chunk of the Indian population. Your CBB snakes might be carrying some disease that they are immune to, but the wild population might not be immune to it.

It probably isn't the case, but there's no need to risk it. The snakes would most likely live fine in the wild, but there are plenty of other alternatives. Most pet stores will buy snakes back from you at a very reduced price, or you could try placing an ad in the paper, or on a variety of reptile forums such as FaunaClassifieds or Kingsnake.com.

If you work in Sanford, why not call the Central Florida Zoo and ask them about adopting the snakes? They have a reptile building, so you never know. It's a much better option than just irresponsibly dumping the snakes off in the woods.

Question is, would you drop off a dog or cat you didn't want in the woods? Just because they're snakes doesn't mean it's acceptable to dump them cuz you don't want them.

The 1st Burms introduced in southern Florida were in the 90s and theirs no proof they were CB. As for how they survived they are a very large species and with no proof the 1s which survived were CB and the fact they are much larger among other factors I think the argument is flawed. Either way when theirs the option to adopt out I don't see any benefit to releasing it.

I think they escaped from breeder/importers in the Miami area. I remember a episode of "Miami Animal Police" where they captured several Tegus and a large monitor lizard and traced them back to a breeder in the area. When they came to check on that guy there was a b/w tegu sitting on a shelf,right under a whole in the roof structure. SAme could happen to a burm or retic or Anaconda. If they are not native to the country they were either escaped or released pets/ imports. there is a 6 foot monitor running around in Longwood(thats on the outskirts of Orlando) right now.

Releasing dogs into the woods and releasing snakes into the woods are COMPLETELY different if you ask me. I don't know, maybe because one species is still "wild" while the other is domesticated and centuries removed from their wild ancestors. duh. Sorry, but that was one lame ass comparison calascorns
.

No need to get rude. You asked for opinions, thats what you got. I don't think you will get anybody saying its a good idea, or recommend you free your snake, but it's upto you. All we can do is give you guidance. If you choose to disregard this advice, it's upto you.

I dont think that calas was that far off. People do it, in the woods, roadside or just the city. Espec cats will fall back on teir natural prey instinct. Just look at the strays and "wild" pets that run around in every city. Cats and dogs are tame because of human interaction they receive from birth. Ever saw a little kitty, with no human contact, huff and puff ? Thats how quick they go "wild" or feral.I grew up on a farm so we had quite a few strays stop by for a meal and some mouse hunting.

Calas asked a very fair question. A pet is a pet no matter what it is or where it came from. If you have tired of it for whatever reason it is still your responsibility to do right by it. Sell it, put it up for adoption, bring it to a local rescue. I'm not going to repeat the valid points raised here by others, but do hope you pony up and do the right thing here...which is not releasing it.

This post is rather heart breaking. All I can say is I think you should do some research before buying your next "flavor of the month".