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catbyte

(34,402 posts) Sun Oct 6, 2019, 08:20 PM Oct 2019

Guy Does The Kindest Thing For Giant Thirsty Snake

So sweet 👏

BY CAITLIN JILL ANDERS

Several weeks ago, a huge bushfire tore its way along the Sunshine Coast in Australia. People had to evacuate, homes were destroyed — and the wildlife who call that area home were left struggling.

“The fire occurred in the bushland near Peregian Beach and Peregian Breeze,” Stuart McKenzie, of Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7, told The Dodo. “It was a huge fire and one of the worst fires seen on the Sunshine Coast in a long time.”

Wanting to help, McKenzie and other volunteers and rescue groups went out in the aftermath of the fire, looking for injured animals who may have needed their help. McKenzie has always had a soft spot for snakes, so he was keeping a special eye out for them, hoping to help any who had survived the blaze.

As they trekked through the destruction, McKenzie spotted a carpet python hiding under some tree roots and immediately knelt down to offer him a much-needed drink of water.

"He is so lucky to survive," McKenzie wrote on Facebook. "I think he appreciated the drink too!"

After spending some time with the sweet snake, offering him water and comfort, McKenzie took him to a local vet, just to make sure he was OK after everything he’d been through. Luckily, the vet didn’t find any signs that he was sick or injured — he was probably just a little shaken up.

“He got the all clear so I released him into a patch of bush nearby that wasn't affected by the fires,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie and the volunteers were able to help other snakes and various animals during their searches, too. The fires were certainly devastating for the area, but hopefully with the help of kind people like McKenzie, the wildlife in the area will recover and bounce back stronger than ever.

“If you live near bush, especially in the bushfire-affected areas, it might be worth putting some water out in a dish for the local wildlife,” McKenzie wrote.

https://www.thedodo.com/in-the-wild/man-gives-injured-snake-water

11 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Guy Does The Kindest Thing For Giant Thirsty Snake (Original Post) catbyte Oct 2019 OP

Great story and recommendation about providing water to animal survivors. democratisphere Oct 2019 #1

Snakes are I_UndergroundPanther Oct 2019 #2

I wish I could have a big snake wryter2000 Oct 2019 #4

Sunglow Boas are breathtaking. I_UndergroundPanther Oct 2019 #6

Welcome to DU wryter2000 Oct 2019 #11

A big snake just requires I_UndergroundPanther Oct 2019 #8

Aw, squee! I like snakes; they get a bad rap that they don't deserve. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2019 #9

Oh my gosh wryter2000 Oct 2019 #10

What a beauty wryter2000 Oct 2019 #3

No snake comment from me. But -- Grammy23 Oct 2019 #5

I sure wish I could send you some of our rain. The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2019 #7

democratisphere

(17,235 posts)

1. Great story and recommendation about providing water to animal survivors.

Reply to catbyte (Original post)

Sun Oct 6, 2019, 08:41 PM

Oct 2019

Thanks for posting catbyte!

I_UndergroundPanther

(12,480 posts)

2. Snakes are

Reply to catbyte (Original post)

Sun Oct 6, 2019, 10:45 PM

Oct 2019

So cute when they drink with thier adorable forked tounges curled up to be a little cup. I had an 8 foot boa girl named Kali she was the sweetest snake, she died of old age,and I still miss her alot.

wryter2000

(46,051 posts)

4. I wish I could have a big snake

Reply to I_UndergroundPanther (Reply #2)

Mon Oct 7, 2019, 01:49 PM

Oct 2019

I have a corn snake.

I saw it sunglow boa I'd love to have, but it could grow to 10 feet. The most beautiful creature I ever laid eyes on.

I_UndergroundPanther

(12,480 posts)

6. Sunglow Boas are breathtaking.

Reply to wryter2000 (Reply #4)

Mon Oct 7, 2019, 08:37 PM

Oct 2019

And cute too.

wryter2000

(46,051 posts)

11. Welcome to DU

Reply to I_UndergroundPanther (Reply #6)

Tue Oct 8, 2019, 04:04 PM

Oct 2019

I keep thinking about that snake, and that tells me I'm not going to forget him/her and will have to get him/her at some point.

I_UndergroundPanther

(12,480 posts)

8. A big snake just requires

Reply to wryter2000 (Reply #4)

Mon Oct 7, 2019, 09:06 PM

Oct 2019

A different way to hold it.
I would wrap Kali around my waist she'd stick her tail in my pocket for leverage. And I would do stuff around the house as she rode me. She always kept her head on my shoulder. I even took her out for walks in the summer. She knew her name she was incredibly intelligent and had a wicked sense of humor.
Every morning we'd spend 5 minutes or so snake dancing. She'd stand up in her cage when my alarm went off knowing it was snake dance time. She was a happy snake and the sweetest good girl in the world to me. And a funny side note,she would watch Steven Colbert and daily show. And she would fall asleep on me sometimes snakes don't have eyelids like we do she'd go limp and I had to snatch her coils or she'd fall off the couch,and she would rest her head on my heart as she slept.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,733 posts)

9. Aw, squee! I like snakes; they get a bad rap that they don't deserve.

Reply to I_UndergroundPanther (Reply #8)

Mon Oct 7, 2019, 09:11 PM

Oct 2019

wryter2000

(46,051 posts)

10. Oh my gosh

Reply to I_UndergroundPanther (Reply #8)

Tue Oct 8, 2019, 04:03 PM

Oct 2019

My snakey isn't nearly that smart, but he is a sweet guy. He only bit me once--a glancing bite because I moved my hand in the wrong place when he was getting ready to eat.

He's happy to be wrapped around my shoulders, but he doesn't sit still. He has to go exploring.

wryter2000

(46,051 posts)

3. What a beauty

Reply to catbyte (Original post)

Mon Oct 7, 2019, 01:45 PM

Oct 2019

Love snakes.

Grammy23

(5,810 posts)

5. No snake comment from me. But --

Reply to catbyte (Original post)

Mon Oct 7, 2019, 01:50 PM

Oct 2019

Locally, we’re experiencing drought conditions. No rain since Aug. 27th and very high temps so there is not a lot of water collecting for birds, squirrels and other critters (neighborhood cats that stroll and lounge in our yard). So we have tried to keep a large plant saucer and bird bath filled with water so the critters have easy access to water for drinking and bathing. Last week, several birds were observed sipping and then bathing in the bird bath. Enjoyed watching the free show!

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,733 posts)

7. I sure wish I could send you some of our rain.

Reply to Grammy23 (Reply #5)

Mon Oct 7, 2019, 08:53 PM

Oct 2019

This has been one of the wettest summers on record, and although gardens have been lush and green, some vegetables didn't ripen normally and a lot of flowers were very late to bloom because the sun hardly ever shines. I have hostas that finally bloomed last week. My deck has moss on it, and it hasn't stopped raining long enough for it to dry out so I can clean and repaint it. I dread what might happen this winter when the rain becomes snow.

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