Oh my gosh. The poor little thing. Good for you for trying to help. I have no suggestions but complete support.

House of Reptiles Portland suggests vegetable oil and a qtip, working slowly. It's going to call for patience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5qLQBc0RMY

Actually it turns out that my wife knows a guy that works at the Wildlife Center of Virginia. She texted him the situation and he called back with some of the same suggestions. He lives somewhere east of C'ville and takes the interstate to Waynesboro. I'm currently scheduled to meet him tomorrow near one of the interstate exits in town and give him the snake to take it to the Wildlife Center.

My past control company had placed sticky traps in our garage. After 5 snakes got stuck in them, I decided they weren't for me. However, I was able to release the snakes in question using vegetable oil and didn't even have to touch them.

I generously poured the oil on the trap and around the body of the snake. As it wiggled, trying to escape, more and more of the oil worked it's way between the trap and the snake's body and I could see progress was being made. Within a short period of time, the snake freed itself and darted into the shrubbery. There were no snake parts left on the trap.

Since your snake is active and you're apparently willing to touch it (you're so brave!!), consider anchoring the end of the tape to something so that as the snake wiggles, it will work the oil between the tape and its body. That way the snake can decide how hard it wants to pull on the tape.

He's very pretty and I'm hoping for a good outcome for him.

Bob, I am so glad you were able to contact the Wildlife Center. How is the snake this morning? Let us know as soon as you can.

The guy from the Wildlife Center had other things going on this morning and he wasn't sure when he'd be able to try to meet me. So instead I drove up over the mountain to the Wildlife Center in Waynesboro and dropped the little snake off. He seemed fine in his box, and luckily didn't try to get out in the car. The people at the Wildlife Center said they would try vegetable oil or mineral oil on the tape and then since it is past when snakes get settled in for the winter, they will likely keep him over the winter and release him in the spring.

Update from my wife's friend at the wildlife center:

I wanted to give
you a brief update on your little snake. Our vet staff was able to get
all of the tape and adhesive off the snake’s skin. It still has a bit
of a kink in his body, but x-rays (yes, we really did x-ray the snake)
did
not show any fractures or obvious reasons for the unnatural kink in his
topline. So, they are assuming it was related to soft tissue pain or
cramping. He has been given anti-inflammatory medication to alleviate
any pain or swelling. We hope that is going
to do the trick.

I’m sorry that my schedule did not allow me to meet
Bob this morning, but I certainly give him great kudos for driving the
little snake over to the Wildlife Center. He indicated that you did
not necessarily want to have the snake return
when/if it is ready to be released. If you change your mind on that,
let me know; he’ll be here for a while.

Thanks again for caring about the snake. You star in heaven will be a bit brighter because of your kindness and concern.

Good for you, Bob! You saved a life today.

Bob - that's wonderful news. That was such a pretty snake I was hoping everything would work out.

We have a young male rattlesnake living underneath our exterior steps. We contacted the state and they told us that since it's protected we're not allowed to do anything except move it 200 yards. Well - I'm not moving it anywhere. I just hope it's gone next spring. Last year we had copperheads in the wood pile. I don't mind the rat snakes and corn snakes but I'm not too keen on rattlesnakes hanging around the house.

We have a young male rattlesnake living underneath our exterior steps

Holy cow! I'd be terrified someone would step on it!! Especially me! LOL!

Thanks for showing such great care for one of God's creatures, bob ;-)

So glad the snake is going to be okay, and so happy to read about kindness to a fellow creature.

Marcy - believe me it's not the best living arrangement and I hate to say this but if he's still around come spring then he has to go. The State Wildlife officer said to call him if we see him again and "he'll do someting" - We also spoke on the phone with one of the State Foresters who said we could call him in the spring because by then he'll have his license to catch them so that their venom can be collected.

We knew we had rattlsnakes on the property but we've only seen them twice in 20 years. The first time DH was using a pitchfork to load wood chips into a wheelbarrow and he uncovered a nest of baby rattlers.

DH was using a pitchfork to load wood chips into a wheelbarrow and he uncovered a nest of baby rattlers.

LOL! I just shivered.....

Bob, thank you so much for literally going the extra mile for the little snake.
And I will bet that the ride over to Waynesboro this morning was spectacular!

Maire, is there any way to seal off those steps? Now, or in the spring?

Bob, you have a good heart. Thanks for taking care of him.

I was walking on a paved walk path yesterday and there was a snake right on the edge of the grass, and it scared me to death for a few seconds. A couple was coming the other way so I had to tell them I why I jumped. I turned around and they were talking the the snake, telling him that he could cross the path. I have no idea what kind it was and did not hang around to ask.