birding-aus

Birds>>python>>puppy

To: "'Jill Dening'" <>, "'birding-aus'" <>
Subject: Birds>>python>>puppy
From: "Gregory Little" <>
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:23:51 +1000
Jill

As far as I can see there are really only three simple options

1 Get rid of the dog
2 Wait and see if the snake really is interested in the dog
3 get a bigger dog that can protect itself

Greg Little

Greg Little - Principal Consultant
General Flora and Fauna
PO Box 526
Wallsend, NSW, 2287, Australia
Ph    02 49 556609
Fx    02 49 556671
www.gff.com.au
-----Original Message-----
From: 
 On Behalf Of Jill Dening
Sent: Sunday, 28 September 2008 11:21 AM
To: birding-aus
Cc: Channing
Subject: Birds>>python>>puppy

Hi all,

Whilst a little off-topic, I am hopeful that there might be python
experts on the list, and able to offer thoughts.

Our garden birds alerted us a few days ago to the presence of an 8 foot
python crawling on the house exterior. The python has been around for
years. Well, pythons have been around for years at our place, if not
this one. And we all co-exist amicably - until now, and I am a little
concerned.

We have been without a dog for four years, and recently acquired a
puppy. She is now 14 weeks old and is a cross miniature fox terrier and
papillon. This will tell you that she will not grow to be a big dog.

The python seems to be taking a special interest in the house surrounds,
and we suspect it's because of the pup.

Before this thought passed through my mind, a few days ago the python
went into a downpipe and got stuck. The pipe passes into the ground, and
I have once before had to extract a maggot-infested python from the
drainpipe in sections. The smell was memorable.

We happen to live in Beerwah, home of Australia Zoo. I called the
wonderful rescue team at Australia Zoo, and they were busy, but put me
on the list for snake extraction. I covered the snake with a wet towel
to keep it cool. By the time someone from the zoo arrived, we found the
snake had self-extracted (thank goodness). The snake was stretched out
nearby on our roof. The young woman said she had never seen such a large
carpet snake before, and we should never let the pup out of our sight,
because she would be such an easy meal for the snake. She said the snake
was big enoughand strong enough to kill (but not eat) a grown human. We
agreed not to relocate the snake because they are territorial and it
would possibly make its way home.

Now I am in a quandary, as the snake seems to like the Chinese jasmine
running along about 10 metres of trellis which is the dog's outdoor run.
We can't let her outside.

Does anyone have any thoughts about snake habits and perhaps a solution?
I can ring Australia Zoo again, but perhaps one of you might also have
an idea. I can't think of anything except relocation. And the dog is not
going anywhere.

Cheers,

Jill


--
Jill Dening
Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

26° 51' 41"S     152° 56' 00"E
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