How to Safely Transport a Snake

Whether the snake is yours or one you've found in the wild, transporting it should be done with care. Transporting a snake requires knowledge of the species as well as accommodations for your safety and his. Some snakes can be transported easily while others require more care. For example, a snake that you keep as a pet will transport far easier than one you find in the woods behind your home. Remember that there are laws in some states which govern the transport of snakes, so make sure you aren't breaking the law by relocating it. For example, in many states you must have a wildlife professional transport a wild snake more than five hundred feet.

How you transport a snake will depend on several factors, including its size, the distance you have to travel, and whether or not it is venomous. A docile ball python or similar constrictor can be transported with less care than a venomous wild snake.

If you will be traveling a short distance (taking less than half an hour), you can transport a snake in something as easy as a pillow case or cloth bag with a knot at the top. This not only protects you from a snake that might get agitated, but gives the animal a chance to breathe and to feel safe. This will not, however, work with a potentially dangerous snake, particularly one which is venomous. A viper, for example, could easily bite through cloth.

For snakes which may be dangerous, you will need a plastic container of some sort with an easily secured lid to transport the snake. One of the most effective such containers is a ventilated plastic bucket for keeping minnows in water. The ventilation ensures that the snake can't be deprived of air and these containers are easily secured without much effort. Garbage cans, feeding buckets and tackle boxes are often just as effective as long as they have lids which can be tightly secured. If you're going to use one of these items, make sure that you aren't leaving the snake in its container out in the sun and that you have a way to keep it ventilated.