New Mexico handler uses tweezers in 26-minute rescue of rattlesnake stuck by its jaw

A rattlesnake caught by its bottom jaw in a glue trap was freed after 26 minutes of painstaking work by a New Mexico snake handler, who warned that the rescue was dangerous even with her experience.

To avoid tugging at the animal's skin, handler Kimberly Paws carefully loosened the trap's adhesive with tweezers.

Here's what to know

Paws, 37, is a venomous-snake handler, animal trainer, and dog groomer, according to Caters Clips. A video report shared by Yahoo documented her efforts to free the trapped rattlesnake.

Pauses were part of Paws' approach as she carefully worked at the glue instead of pulling the animal loose. Its trapped jaw required particularly delicate handling. "There was a lot of sitting and waiting, and when I was using the tweezers, I was pulling on the glue, not on the snake's actual skin," she said.

A transparent restraint tube allowed Paws to pick up the rattlesnake safely. She placed part of its body inside the tube to keep it steady while removing it from the trap.

Some damage to the snake's scales was possible, but Paws expected the rattlesnake to recover. She believed its abrasions had left the main skin layer intact.

For some viewers, the rescue highlighted their opposition to glue traps. "They honestly need to make glue traps illegal; they are one of the most inhumane traps and create suffering for whatever they trap," one commenter said.

What can be done?

Paws advised that an experienced rescuer, rather than the person who happens to find the trapped animal, should handle its removal. "If you have an animal on a glue trap, please call a professional!" she said.

She also warned viewers not to copy what they had seen in the video: "Please do not try this at home. I am extremely experienced in rattlesnake behavior, and it was still a dangerous task."

Release in a suitable location would depend on the rattlesnake's health, Caters Clips wrote. Paws planned to keep it under observation for several days before making that decision.

One viewer thanked her for the rescue and expressed hope that the animal could return to its surroundings: "You did an amazing job! Thank you for helping that pretty rattlesnake. Hopefully he can fully recover and continue to eat lots of rodents!"

Where can I learn more?

Freeing a trapped snake can be dangerous, even for an experienced handler like Paws. These stories cover snake rescues, wildlife entanglements, and a dangerous encounter involving a dog.

• In Canada, a rattlesnake wrangler moved 211 snakes off public property, setting a record.

• California wildlife rescuers freed a rattlesnake and lizard after glue traps immobilized both.

• A San Diego man grabbed a rattlesnake bare-handed after it nearly struck his pit bull.

• In California, an 83-year-old still takes snake calls after seven decades of rescues.

• A Colorado rescuer freed a trapped bullsnake and warned that bird netting endangers wildlife.

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