Posted by Jane Wadden on May 14, 2005

Q: Hi there,

I work at an Outdoor Education School and a topic has come up surrounding keeping garter snakes in our school for up to 1 month in a terrarium. I am totally against it but there are others who say because we are an educational institution and take good care of the snake it would be all right.

So my question is, how do I explain the environmental ethics surrounding this issue and if people are still insisting, is there a way to do this so that the best possible care of the snake can be carried out. i.e. longest possible stay in a terrarium, etc.

Thanks :)

A: It's good to see you're concerned about the issues surrounding wild animals. I totally understand your point but there are times when I personally feel it is OK IF the animal is properly cared for and IF it is returned while still healthy. There really can be a lot of educational value in caring for and observing a wild animal - keep in mind that there are some animals that are not legal to possess. Granted, it is best to do this in the wild but most people don't get this chance. If students can observe a snake in captivity, watch how it behaves and feeds, they're most likely to be much less fearful of snakes in the future. We receive so many questions regarding snakes and the fears that people have about them.

To answer your question, though, I'd strongly encourage any caregivers to read up on the animal they have so they understand enough to both provide a proper environment and proper food. This seems to be the least that people can do for a captive wild animal. Once they understand the requirements of a Garter Snake, for example, they should be willing to release it immediately if they find it is not "thriving" in captivity.

Hope this helps. Thanks for your question.

John Wiessinger ( May 16, 2005)