ANIMAL HANDLING

Species: Honduran Milk Individuals (location): Jersey (CZ-Red Barn), Cheddar (CZ-Red Barn), Milkshake (CZ-Red Barn) Tier: One- Intermediate

Equipment: Large cooler, dri-dek, yellow towels (take an extra towel in case of soiling), plastic travel terrarium, lid strap, hand sanitizer

Reminder For : Do not use snakes while they are being fed (check for “do not use” sign) or if snake is about to shed (check for dull look, cloudy eyes and belly scales). If snake is about to shed notify a keeper and sign out another snake.

Crating:  ALWAYS wash or sanitize hands before and after handling each to remove smells.  Have cooler with dri-dek and terrarium with towel at bottom ready and open to receive the snake once you have it out.  If snake is in cardboard box, tip box gently and let snake slide out; don’t dump. If snake is under its plastic hut gently remove the hut. Remove the water dish if necessary. Never reach your hands inside cardboard box or hut.  Before picking up the snake gently touch the animal so it is aware of your presence. You don’t want to surprise them.  Pick snake up in thirds and place in terrarium, head first. Secure terrarium lid with small pieces of duct tape.  Place terrarium in cooler. Crumple up newspaper and surround the terrarium inside the cooler with newspaper to keep the terrarium from sliding during transport.  If you get the newspaper in the snake’s drawer wet, replace the paper.  Return cardboard box/hut and water dish to drawer and close it. Do not put the snakes hut or cardboard box on top of the heating element. In the medium and small snake drawers the heating element is in the back of the drawer.  Label cooler with animal’s name and secure with lid strap.  Sign out animal on paperwork.  Carry cooler with both hands or on a cart. Do not tilt or swing cooler in transport.  If transporting snake outdoors and the temperature is below the animal’s temperature guidelines, cover the top of the cooler with your extra towel.  Never expose a cooler (with animal inside or not) to prolonged sunlight, heat, or cold.

Handling:  ALWAYS wash or sanitize hands before and after handling each animal.  Watch for belt loops, belts, badges, jewelry, branches, or near by objects, etc. Snakes can easily become tangled.  Hold snake in a way that keeps its head away from visitors. Allow visitors to touch near the tail in a downward direction with the flow of the scales.  Return to cooler.  If snake is holding tightly to you, gently unwrap starting with the tail  Make sure snake is in bottom of terrarium before closing lid.  Pass around hand sanitizer. Page 1 of 2 11/28/2012

ANIMAL HANDLING

Return Animal:  Be sure to return to the correct drawer.  Make sure all of snake’s body is inside drawer and close drawer carefully. Push the drawer in until it stops.  Sign animal back in and make comments on paperwork.  If snake excreted, mark this on the comments section of the sign out form.

Cleanup  Spray inside of terrarium with F-10 and wipe down with green cleaning towel (Remember to wear protective eyewear whenever using chemicals). Do not ever mix up the green and yellow towels.  If towel is soiled, clean off solid pieces and rinse. Put soiled towel in hamper located in room. If towel is not soiled, fold and put back in the cooler with the strap.  Return cooler with terrarium, dri-dek, strap and towel to the appropriate location on shelf.  Wash hands.

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