Free tool · safety first
I found a wild reptile
First: take a breath — most found reptiles need nothing from you but space. Tell us the situation and we'll point you to the safe next step.
What's the situation?
⚠ Safety firstIt's a snake, and I can't identify it
- Assume it could be venomous until an expert confirms otherwise — do NOT try to handle, catch, or kill it.
- Back away and give it space. It wants to escape, not fight; most bites happen when people try to catch or kill snakes.
- From a safe distance, photograph it and get an ID from experts — a regional herpetological society, a reputable "snake ID" group, or the iNaturalist/Seek app.
- If it's somewhere dangerous (indoors, near pets or children), call animal control or a professional snake relocator — not a DIY catch.
- Never kill it: attempting to is how people get bitten, it's often illegal (many native snakes are protected), and a misidentified "dangerous" snake is usually a harmless, beneficial native.
Take actionIt's injured
- Don't try to treat it yourself, and never take an unidentified snake in hand.
- Contact a licensed wildlife rehabber or a reptile rescue near you — they'll advise or take it in.
- If it's a small, clearly-harmless reptile (e.g. a common lizard) you can safely contain, a ventilated box somewhere warm-ish, dark, and quiet buys time while you call.
- If a person is bitten by an unidentified or venomous snake, call emergency services / poison control immediately — don't wait for symptoms.
Take actionIt's in my house, garage, or pool
- Keep people and pets away, and if you can, shut doors to contain it to one room.
- Don't corner or grab an unidentified snake — that's exactly when bites happen.
- Call a professional snake relocator, animal control, or a local herp group for safe removal.
- For a small, clearly-identified harmless lizard, you can gently guide it into a box with a soft brush and release it outside nearby.
Take actionIt might be an escaped pet
- A clearly non-native species loose outdoors (a ball python, a bearded dragon, a big colourful gecko) is almost certainly a lost pet, not wildlife.
- If — and only if — you can confidently identify it as harmless, contain it gently (a ventilated tub with warmth and water) and check local lost-pet and reptile-keeper groups.
- Never release a non-native reptile back outside: it will suffer in the wrong climate, and where it can survive it becomes invasive. Hand it to a rescue if unclaimed.
Usually: leave it beIt seems healthy and it's outside where it belongs
- The kindest thing is usually to leave it be — a wild reptile in its own habitat is home, not lost.
- Don't take a wild native home as a pet: it's illegal in many places, wild reptiles rarely thrive in captivity, and it risks spreading disease.
- Give it space and let it move on — a basking lizard or a snake passing through is doing exactly what it should. Enjoy it from a distance.
- Only step in if it's injured, in immediate danger, or a suspected non-native/invasive species.
Never
- Never try to catch, handle, or kill a snake you can't 100% identify as harmless.
- Never assume "it's probably harmless" — misidentification is how people get bitten and how protected natives get killed.
- Never take a wild native reptile home as a pet.
- Never release a pet or non-native reptile into the wild.
- Avoid bare-handed contact with any wild reptile (some carry Salmonella) — and wash your hands afterward.
Who to contact
- iNaturalist / Seek app — Free photo ID to narrow down what you found (confirm anything risky with a human expert).
- Regional herpetological society / "snake ID" expert group — The fastest way to a reliable ID from people who know your local species.
- Licensed wildlife rehabber / reptile rescue — For injured wildlife or an unclaimed escaped pet.
- Animal control / professional snake relocator — For a snake inside your home or in a dangerous spot.
- Emergency services / poison control — Immediately, for any snakebite from an unidentified or venomous snake.
Want the full walkthrough? ReadI found a wild snake — what should I do?for the complete safety guide (including snakebite first aid), andwhy a wild reptile isn't a pet to keep.
Quick answers
I found a wild snake — what should I do?
Give it space and don’t touch it. The one rule that keeps you safe: never try to catch, handle, or kill a snake you can’t 100% identify as harmless — a misidentified snake is how people get bitten, and how harmless, protected natives get needlessly killed. Most snakes just move on if left alone. If it’s somewhere it can’t stay, contact your local wildlife authority or a herpetological society rather than handling it yourself.
Should I move a wild turtle or tortoise I found?
Usually leave it be. A turtle crossing a road can be helped across in the direction it was already heading, but otherwise a wild turtle or tortoise doesn’t need rescuing and shouldn’t be relocated — moving it from its home range can be harmful. Never take it home to keep. If it’s clearly injured, call a wildlife rehabilitator or your local wildlife authority.
Can I keep a wild reptile I found as a pet?
No — please don’t. Wild-caught reptiles are stressed and often carry parasites, many species are legally protected, and a wild animal rarely thrives in captivity. Keeping one can also be illegal where you live. Enjoy it, then let it go where you found it; if you want that species, buy a captive-bred one instead.
Who do I call about a found reptile?
Your local wildlife authority, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, or a regional herpetological society are the right contacts — they can identify the animal, advise on the law, and handle anything dangerous or injured. Wildlife laws and which species are dangerous vary a lot by region, so local experts always have the final word.
Kind, general safety guidance from The Baskden Team — not legal advice. Wildlife laws and which species are dangerous vary a lot by region, so your local wildlife authority and herpetological society have the final word.