Tips on how to flush out an escaped corn snake?

Ok, long story short, the younger kid's corn snake managed to escape her vivarium this morning.

We're utterly flummoxed as to how the hell she did this, it locks via pins & those were still secure, and there are no gaps or holes in anything, not even the screened lid. And she is DEFINITELY not hiding in there, we checked. Extremely thoroughly & emptied it to be sure.

We've power cleaned most of her room, though haven't gotten to the closet yet. We've emptied out & thoroughly examined all drawers and examined each piece of furniture closely. No dice. There's a small nightstand in one corner to move yet, and then the closet.


I know if we don't stumble across an overly adventurous juvenile snake on our own, we'll have to set (safe) traps and lures. I know about the flour on the floors to highlight tracks and thus movement, but we're carpeted everywhere but the kitchen & bathroom (basement aside), on the opposite side of the house...I don't think flour works on carpet, and I'm not really willing to clog up the vacuum. We've got enough small boxes and paper bags to set out nesting/hiding spots, and I know to set plastic down and listen for rustling from snoopy slitherers.

Luring with food will not work, she was fed two days ago. She won't show interest in food again for another 2-3 days or so yet (she's a very eager eater, but when she's full, she's full)

ANY tips for rounding her up that we haven't thought of are welcome. Kid's worked herself into such a panicked tizzy that she's out cold for a bit. I could use the nap too, but the older kid and I should keep looking anyway. If nothing else, the room's clean...


And no.

I have not alerted hubby of this.
.
.
.
.
He's not fond of snakes. Somewhat fearful, actually. This is going to go over like a fart in church.

a reply to: Nyiah

Place a heat lamp or heat rock in an area that can be observed.

2 cents

My friend's python would get loose from time to time. he usually ended up in the pillow case. he liked to poop in there. Must be the privacy.

Turn the house upside down looking. Usually when a snake finds a spot he likes, he will stay there. Should be in the warmest spot in the house.
You can turn your air-conditioning on throughout the house and place the tank with heat on the ground in an easily accessible place, make sure its close to where it was.
Snakes are most active at night. Come about 10 a clock at night, set grocery bags along the walls and corners, sit on the couch in compete darkness and quiet. After about 30 minutes or so, you should hear the bags rustling where the snake is moving. They generally move along walls and corners.

If you do find him, think about the location of the tank. Snakes usually try to find a way out if they are unhappy, uncomfortable or stressed out. A child's room may not be the best area for a snake tank. Snakes will sometimes come back after a month or two when they get hungry.

Also, pull out your fridge and check the coils. They are known to go there for warmth sometimes.

When I was young I had a grass snake latch onto my pant leg and my friends kept shooting it as I was trying to kick it loose. Boy the bruises on my leg and foot from the bbs from their BB guns. It played dead and we put it on the farm road but it disappeared while we were picking some strawberries to eat.

Since then I have not liked snakes anymore. So this is my recommendation..... Make sure your house insurance is paid up and torch the house.

I also never trusted kids with BB guns or Pellet guns after that.

a reply to: Nyiah

Mine would go straight to the washer, then coil around the ring of the washer.

a reply to: Nyiah

When mine escaped...I never saw him again.


Dave was really cool.

Answering one post at a time, so I don't get anyone mixed up here.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
a reply to: Nyiah

Place a heat lamp or heat rock in an area that can be observed.

2 cents

We've got a heat lamp & a heat pad for under the humidity box (under the glass, not inside the vivarium obviously) I have a MUCH larger one for people that I could lay out somewhere, but the damn thing shuts off automatically after 30 minutes or an hour, I don't remember which. I could put that down somewhere and see if it attracts her in that time period. It's worth a try like everything else!

originally posted by: network dude
My friend's python would get loose from time to time. he usually ended up in the pillow case. he liked to poop in there. Must be the privacy.

We stripped the bed down, it was the first thing we thought of because her bed is right next to the bedside table she has the vivarium on.

Nothing, anywhere. Other than an assload of bedding I might as well just wash a few days early, lol.

originally posted by: Alicat12
Turn the house upside down looking. Usually when a snake finds a spot he likes, he will stay there. Should be in the warmest spot in the house.

You can turn your air-conditioning on throughout the house and place the tank with heat on the ground in an easily accessible place, make sure its close to where it was.
Snakes are most active at night. Come about 10 a clock at night, set grocery bags along the walls and corners, sit on the couch in compete darkness and quiet. After about 30 minutes or so, you should hear the bags rustling where the snake is moving. They generally move along walls and corners.

Catch is, house is old & we don't have and HVAC system, just the furnace (no duct work for A/C) so the whole house is full of warm air by default, lol. I CAN still turn on the furnace fan without heat, it will just blow as a whole-house fan. If I were to do so, it would definitely blow some cool basement are up through the heat ducts. It won't get cold, though, best we get out of it is dropping the house from 85* down to maybe 81-82. After two hours of running it. I'm not sure that would even cool a room enough to prod her into moving around.

I HAVE checked the floor's heat vent in the room, but it definitely didn't look like there was anything in it, and the fine layer of spring pollen was not disturbed.

If you do find him, think about the location of the tank. Snakes usually try to find a way out if they are unhappy, uncomfortable or stressed out. A child's room may not be the best area for a snake tank. Snakes will sometimes come back after a month or two when they get hungry.

Younger kid's 12, and very quiet & attentive & borderline pro with the snake. Snake's a juvenile we got back for her birthday earlier this year, all of maybe a foot and a half at this point so far. In other words, she's pretty much a kid herself. She's very, very attached to the kiddo, I don't think she escaped because of her. She has a stubborn curious streak, though, so I would not put it past the snake to let curiosity get the best of her and give her the inspiration to bust out.

Outsmarted by a reptile with more ants in the pants than a two year old...

originally posted by: Alicat12
Also, pull out your fridge and check the coils. They are known to go there for warmth sometimes.

I'll check that & the stove anyway, but I don't think she made it to the kitchen -- she's in the kid's bedroom so we can close the door & keep the furballs away from her if they're getting too interested. She would have had to squish herself between the carpet and a very low-sitting door the cats can't even get a paw under. While it may be feasible, I'm not sure how likely it really is.

I already checked the bathroom, I know for some reason snakes have a thing for hiding behind commodes. Suffice it to say nothing was in there, either.

originally posted by: Bigburgh
a reply to: Nyiah

Mine would go straight to the washer, then coil around the ring of the washer.

Washer & dryer are in the basement, I sure as hell HOPE she's not somehow down there. It's a proverbial hiding place paradise despite not being all that cluttered (lots of storage cupboard built-ins from earlier owners, we're renters)

originally posted by: DrumsRfun
a reply to: Nyiah

When mine escaped...I never saw him again.

Dave was really cool.

I really hope Sherry didn't hit the dusty trail with Dave. The girl is going to be inconsolable if so...

a reply to: Alicat12

Yeah..no on the ac.
He might be in the duct work.
That would kill it fast

..edited...sounds like snake is pretty big.
Not sure of duct register sizing..some oldschool returns are pretty big.

Turn heating off (if on)
Use powder to see where it's coming from ( put powered near walls etc)
Put a mouse (dead) in a bottle. The snake will be able to get in but not back out after its eaten the mouse

I'd ask a reptile breeder, people with some experience finding lost reptiles. Also they might be super helpful since you might be a future customer

originally posted by: Alicat12
Also, pull out your fridge and check the coils. They are known to go there for warmth sometimes.

... and companionship!

I am pretty sure we have two escaped ball pythons somewhere in our house. I say pretty sure, because my daughter told me about the one being missing, but then she bought another one... and I haven’t seen it for a couple of months... and she hasn’t bought any rats to feed it for that amount of time too.

You have cats? I saw you mentioned furballs above...