injured wil caught milksnake

Question

poor little fella   QUESTION: found injured milksnake in s.fl. he needs to shed, but injury to one eye has fused his skin there. his nostril(s) sealed shut as well, causing necessity to mouth breathe, accompanied by a gasp/hiss noise when mouth stretches wide. possible hawk predation, lots of red tails/red shoulders locally. how to facilitate shed for this desert species? what else can i do in addition to that, feeding and provide proper husbandry? don't have current funds for herp vet, although i know he needs it. wildlife center won't take him due to non native species of poor guy.

ANSWER: Based on the pic I don't think he's ready to shed yet.  Give it a couple more days, the skin will clear up right before the shed.  I think he'll be able to shed on his own.  That is a Sinoloan Milk Snake and the care is very similar to a corn snake.  One mouse per week, dry bedding, water dish, hide box, mid 80's to low 70's, can be lower during winter if off food.  Internal injuries and infection are your biggest worries here, and there's not much one can do about either...  Give him a quiet secure cage and let's see if he doesn't pull through.  Good Luck!

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his neck   QUESTION: the attached image featured one side of his profile with the injury. his other side shows milky opaque eye, and there is skin flaking from his rostrum, although it could be caused only by a laceration and not shed indicative. i'm just so worried about his crusted shut nostrils and inability to breathe properly. he's completely blind, and still retains a mellow disposition when i handle him. he is fairly vigorous, and not on death's door yet, but won't eat probably for lack of breathing nasally. i had hoped he would eat. i am applying a topical from ZOO MED to condition his skin and facilitate shedding when transition seems stuck. when he finally does, i'll know if he has one or two eyes. also, i think his airways will open up.
i do want to thank you sincerely for your time and prompt attention. i do wonder how a sinaloan milk is found in a back yard of south florida. man people are so stupid and irresponsible with regard to animals ,and especially the ecological balance. the urban myths are reality in florida. the are retics and anacondas in the sewers. gators too. i may have to pester you again in another day or 2.

cheers!

Sunday  

Answer
Yeah, he is several days away from a shed.  Once that happens you'll get a much better sense of how he'll do.  If any of the wounds open up after the shed regular old Neosporin works well.  He'll probably eat once that shed happens.  They are good escape artists so someone is probably missing him right about now.  

I think the "Python Problem" is a little overstated myself.  Sure, they are some loose, and yes, they don't belong, but I doubt the numbers I hear.  A friend and I spent an entire weekend in Everglades NP and the only snakes we saw were Cottonmouths and ribbon snakes.  In fact, the only exotic we saw was a cuban tree frog.  And frankly with Cuba being only 90 miles away, I'd hardly call that an exotic...  Feral cats, exotic fish, and exotic plants have done more to change FL's ecosystem than large boids ever will, but people aren't afraid of kitty cats, catfish, or tress...