A ‘Problem’ Leads to Potential Solutions for Injured Reptiles

We know – and love – the Turtle Rescue Team here at The Abstract. But their work isn’t just limited to our shelled friends: snakes are sometimes visitors to the TRT as well. In a recent study, Greg Lewbart, professor of aquatic, wildlife and zoological medicine and Savannah Dunn, 2024 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine, compiled 25 years’ worth of case studies on their slithery patients. The Abstract sat down with Dunn to talk about the study and the inspiration for the work: a snake named Problem.

The Abstract (TA): In the paper, you indicate that most of the snake injuries are from entanglements. What are the challenges around treating those injuries in snakes? And how do those snakes arrive at the facility? Are they still entangled? Do folks just bring in a wad of netting and snake?

Dunn: There’s quite a variety in the condition of netting entanglement snakes when they present. Some are, as you mentioned, brought in still entangled in the netting the Good Samaritan found them in. If the snake is lucky, we cut them out of it, and they can immediately be returned to the wild. But others sustain truly horrific injuries. It’s similar to what happens if a tourniquet is left on for too long around an extremity. Often, the netting literally cuts into their skin and muscle, sometimes going very deep, and if the circulation is cut off for too long, the tissue can start to die. Except in these cases it’s not an extremity, it’s the snake’s entire body. And that can be catastrophic. But reptiles really do have an amazing capacity for healing.

TA: Most of the snakes treated were black rat snakes – considered “good” snakes by most people. Have you ever had to treat venomous snakes?

Dunn: Turtle Team doesn’t admit venomous snakes, since special training (and I believe permitting) is required to house and handle those species, to ensure human safety. But I hope we can discourage people from viewing non-venomous snakes as “good” and venomous snakes as “bad.” Both play essential roles in the ecosystem, and both benefit humans by controlling rodent populations. Venomous snakes don’t intentionally seek out or harm humans, though I would still definitely recommend keeping a safe distance.

TA: Are there any specific cases that stand out to you?

Dunn: Yes! This study was actually inspired by one snake in particular, a black rat snake named “Problem.” He was my patient when I was on Turtle Team as a third-year vet student. Problem was admitted due to severe wounds he sustained from a netting entanglement. The netting had embedded so tightly into his tissue that it died, and a very large portion near his heart completely sloughed away. He was an amazing little snake and survived so much, but unfortunately he never recovered following a procedure to repair the defect. This project initially started as a single case report on Problem, then expanded to include all our netting entanglement cases, and finally became a complete look at every snake patient Turtle Team has admitted since 1999. I think it not only gave us a better understanding of just how widespread netting entanglements are but also gave some hope that many of the snakes can pull through if they receive veterinary care. Hopefully Problem becomes part of the solution.

TA: If a person encounters an injured or entangled reptile, do you have any recommendations for un-entangling it or getting it help without endangering yourself?

Dunn: Whenever possible, I would advise allowing a professional to do the actual disentangling, since the snakes often do have wounds that require veterinary care, and they can injure themselves further by thrashing and twisting if stressed. Cut away what you can and move the snake into a breathable container (such as a pillowcase) for transport. Step two is to place the bag into a secure container, like a cardboard box or open cooler, to assure the snake is safe and secure. And avoid using plastic netting in your gardens.

The case study, “Clinical overview of snakes presenting to a North Carolina wildlife clinic: a 25-year retrospective review (1999–2023)” appears in the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine.

This post was originally published in NC State News.