On September 10, the Wildlife Center staff made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Severus the Eastern Ratsnake. Severus arrived at the Center in December 2007 and became part of the Center's family as an education ambassador in 2008. In 2022, the Center's veterinary team found early signs of arthritis on Severus' spine, which slowly advanced over the next two years. In early 2024, Severus was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes, leading him to lose most of his vision. Although the Center's team did everything possible to keep Severus comfortable, staff became increasingly concerned for his quality of life and decided humane euthanasia was the kindest option.
Severus was first captured in the basement of a home in 2004 and lived with many different owners before being confiscated by police in Staunton, Virginia in 2007. On admission to the Center, Severus was very malnourished and aggressive – the results of his poor living conditions up until this point. Vet staff worked tirelessly to bring him back to full health, although it quickly became clear that he could not be released due to the amount of time he had been living in captivity. In 2008, Severus became an education ambassador and began working with outreach staff, becoming a favorite among many. Severus also received a roommate in 2012: Albus the Eastern Ratsnake. Although Albus passed in 2022, Severus continued his legacy by teaching the world about their species.
In his 16 years of service, Severus met approximately 63,570 people and participated in 1,065 education programs. Through these programs, Severus changed many people's opinions about snakes by exhibiting his gentle and curious nature. Although Eastern Ratsnakes can be intimidating due to their large size (for Virginia snakes), Severus did an excellent job of helping the public develop an appreciation for his species. Additionally, Severus was featured in the Center's award-winning show UNTAMED, expanding his impact to a global level.
Rest in peace, Severus. You touched the hearts of many and will be greatly missed.