Lost ball python

My apartment is undergoing some minor woodwork this week the guys ripped out the baseboards in my hallway. One small area where the baseboards were removed now has a 2 inch high gap into the main structural part of my building where the old studs are and the area between the roof of the neighbors below and my floor and the plaster walls and floors of my neighbor next door - its a big building with lots of space for a snake to explore. You can see where this is going...I cleaned on Saturday and inadvertently left one of my sliding glass doors open a bit and the snake got out. She is 6 years old and 2200 grams, thankfully not pregnant this year.

For anyone who is going to use this as an opprtunity to harangue me over my stupid lapse of thoroughness, please dont; I have kept snakes for 35 years now and this is my first escape and I feel bad enough about this - what I need are smart suggestions, not a beating.

I have ripped the rest of my home apart and as this woodwork created dust, I can literally see a track where the snake exited into this hole. I know she is inside this very large 8 unit building. As the renovations continue, I will leave a space for her but this is a big building and I cannot be sure coming back out will be of interest to her or even a place she can find her way back to. Please dont suggest ripping out all the walls and floors - this is a 12,000 square foot building.

Thank you in advance for any useful suggestions.

Michael Dougherty

Did you catch her yet? I have heard that for other herps if you lower the heat and the provide a hide and a basking spot it can work. Also leaving food in a clear container that they can see but not get to is another meathod I heard about. Sorry about your loss, Good luck getting her back.