October Snake Update

The snake count is up to 49 so far, including this adult hog nose viper, which has been released back to the jungle.

Snake Update

Our rescued snake count is up to 46….including three boas, one coral snake, one hog-nose viper and one vine snake.  It’s always better to be safe and call for a snake relocation even if the snake is non-venomous.  Our calls usually come from our surrounding neighbors and neighborhood.  The boa pictured was relocated to our own rancho, but has since wandered away.

Injured boa gets help

We would like to report that 40 snakes that have been successfully removed and relocated from various homes and properties from the Hone Creek to Manzanillo area on the Caribbean!  This is a free and valuable service as snakes are a critical part of a healthy jungle ecosystem.

Earlier this month, Chris was called up to the jungle to relocate another boa…this one over two meters in length and weighing over 6 kilos.  Since people do make their homes in the jungle environment, sometimes they don’t want these large snakes near their homes.  Chris retrieved it but noticed that it was suffering some injuries.  He took it the local herpetologist and veterniarians at the Jaguar Research Center located in Cocles.

Also, a juvenile  Oropel (golden skin eyelash viper) was removed from a neighbor’s house.   This was found hanging out on a branch just a short distance from the house.

Snake Relocation Service Update

With more and more people coming to live on the Caribbean, we must continue to find ways to live harmonically with the jungle surroundings.  Our Snake Relocation Service is a free service that Chris offers…he will come and remove the snake from your property or home and relocate it to undisturbed jungle habitat.  Snakes are a very important part of our ecosystems here.  But we understand that many people may be uncomfortable with sharing their home with snakes, which are very beautiful but some are venomous.

Most commonly, Chris is called for boas and eyelash vipers.  This photo is of a boa that  we found  next to our house a few days ago.  We keep the boas on our property because they eat rats and mice (notice that this one had recently dined)!  During the past couple of months, Chris has relocated 16 snakes, mostly boas and eyelash vipers, from homes in the Playa Chiquita area, but also from Puerto Viejo and Hone Creek.

Eyelash Viper Release

Recently, we have rescued and relocated two eyelash vipers from Playa Chiquita to the quiet jungle life further up the mountain where the snakes can roam free.  Both beautiful snakes, and both the same species, however, one is called an “Oropel,” which means gold skin.  The other eyelash viper was darker brown in color.  Eyelash vipers come in a wide variety of colors.  Here is a photo of the Oropel.  Coming soon….videos of snake releases!

Snake Rescues Come in All Sizes

Chris recently rescued and relocated these two boa constrictors.  The massive one was found on the main road on February 11, not far from C & J’s.  It is the largest relocated boa to date.  The baby boa in Chris’ hand was removed from a house in Cocles. WOW! Colombian redtail boas are the largest snakes found in Costa Rica.  Boas are important members of our ecosystem, as are all snakes, especially because they feed on mice and rats!  This means that they are preventing the spead of disease to humans by rodents.  We try to educate neighbors that boas are a good snake to have around your home property, and you should not kill them.  However, if you are uncomfortable sharing your couch with a friendly boa, then call C & J to have it safely removed and relocated to natural habitat.

Look at this video of a 2.5 meter long boa constrictor taken just after its release into the jungle by Chris.

Check out this eyelash viper (Bothriechis schleglii) that was found at a neighbor’s home and relocated by C & J.  The name “eyelash viper” comes from a distinguishing characteristic of these snakes, which is a modified set of scales over their eyes that resemble eyelashes. Wide variations in color help these poisonous snakes blend into their environment.  These vipers are arboreal, meaning that they live in trees, and are one of the most common species of snakes found in this Caribbean area of Costa Rica.

Snake Update

Today (October 24), Chris rescued a juvenile tercipelo (fer-de-lance) from a neighbor’s property.  It will soon be released into its native habitat!  This was a first for the snake relocation service and we are excited to see this beautiful snake.

So far this year, 19 snakes have been rescued and relocated.  These included a large boa constrictor, eyelash vipers, hog-nose vipers, tercipelo, and a beautiful black and white bird eating snake! 

Follow the link to view the release of a boa constrictor Chris relocated:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1356514532703282313