**Warning** Graphic rat snake and rat pic

[noodleroo]

I got to see him up close and personal; the rat was about a foot long or a little longer, with tail. There is a feed store about a mile and a half away that sells rats for pets. Next time I'm in I'll see if they have anything resembling it. Some people just turn their pets out when they need to get rid of them-that may be the case here.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Quote:
I thought the same thing when I saw the photo. Also the fur is more of what a domesticated rat has, very smooth and soft looking.

I looked up Dumbo rats and the ones that I saw do have quite the size or the shape of the head of this rat. I wonder if it is some sort of a species native to that area...Similar to the difference between a house mouse and a field or deer mouse. The profile of the head almost looks like a 'possum.

They aren't a wild species, they are human bred for that size and look. The head on the rat in the pic I think is distorted, he is after all, being squished to death...lol I often saw that sort of thing when I fed my boas.

 

[Quillgirl]

We have a vacation home on a lake, and it sits empty a good bit. I've never seen a rat or mouse in it and I learned why a few months ago... I watched a 6ft long black snake slither into a hole at the base of the chimney! The thing looked like a tree branch! Our friendly neighborhood rodent killer. He gets to stay in the hole.

 

[RM44]

Quote:
If you want to see hundreds of videos of snakes constricting their prey, just do a YouTube search. Fair warning though, a lot of snake owners get off on videoing their snakes killing and eating live chickens and even baby chicks. I suppose it is a good way to get rid of unwanted roosters but it irks me when you hear the laughter in the background.

Yeah, that would make me mad too. I give some latitude to many things that kill for food (humans hunting wild game, snakes eating an egg or two, I even forgive my cats for killing the occasional wild bird as long as they eat it). I totally disagree with taking pleasure in death though. Even small animals, reptiles and the like. I understand and accept killing something that is a "pest", or a "threat" or killing for food, but I think it's sick if we take pleasure in killing. It just doesn't seem right to me. But that's just me.....

I probably won't youtube the snake vids for the reasons you site. I don't want to hear any laughter in the background either.

 

[Caincando1]

Thanks for posting.

Does anyone know if those smakes live up here in cold of Minnesota? I could use one in my barn.