3 Simple Ways to
Share What You Make

With Instructables you can share what you make with the world — and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.

PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

How to Skin and Clean a Dead Snake

How to Skin and Clean a Dead Snake
«
  • IMG_0384.JPG
  • IMG_0410.JPG
So you've got a dead snake- now what?

Learn a useful skill, and leverage roadkill for fun and profit.

A companion to How to Cook a Snake.
 
Remove these adsRemove these ads by Signing Up
 

Step 1Acquire Snake

Acquire Snake
This is probably going to be the hard part.

Snakes do a fine job keeping the world free of unnecessary rodents; don't kill them unless absolutely necessary! That said, if you do kill a snake, or find one dead, don't let it go to waste.

The snake in this Instructable was run over by a car; Eric found it a couple minutes later, its heart still beating, in the process of expiring by the side of the road. Since we knew both time and cause1 of death, and refrigerated the carcass promptly, it was safe to eat. If you just want the skin, the time and mechanism of death isn't as relevant. Just be sensible, and make sure to clean yourself (and the snake parts) up properly.

A bit of internet research identified it as a probable Black Rat Snake, a non-poisonous Indiana resident.

1 Note that snakes can also die from eating poisoned rodents. You dont want to eat a snake dosed up with warfarin or other toxin2. Pay attention to context.

2 It's apparently fine to cook and eat poisonous snakes- cooking is sufficient to inactivate any venomous residue.
« Previous StepDownload PDFView All StepsNext Step »
264 comments
1-40 of 264next »
May 19, 2012. 7:53 AMx3n0c1dal says:
Anal vent is an incorrect term, as far as I am aware. I believe it's just anus.
Mar 28, 2012. 8:45 PMmemememefor says:
always clean your dead snake
Mar 28, 2012. 8:45 PMmemememefor says:
:)
Mar 2, 2012. 6:50 PMGhattasdb says:
Put it on a strip of leather and make a bracelet.
Mar 2, 2012. 11:41 AMBrazilian Saber Tooth says:
Awesome! Usefull knowledge!

I'm gonna have to try with my new tool.

Thanx!
Sep 8, 2010. 9:13 PMmacmundi says:
There are lots of dead dogs on the streets here in Thailand. Maybe the people here got tired of their pets and run them over.
Sep 9, 2010. 12:25 PMoriole says:
Take them to Indonesia. They'll barbecue it for you
Sep 4, 2011. 6:32 PMoriole says:
http://townhall.com/photos/2011/05/29/dogs_are_bound_in_sacks_before_their_slaughter_at_bambanglipuro_village_in_bantul

I spent 4 months there around the time this first comment was written. I traveled from Jakarta to Manado. I saw dog barbques in all the places I went. I did not say all Indonesians eat dogs. I wouldn t say all all americans eat cows., but you can sure say that we have many places to barbecue a steak. So take your cows to america they will barbecue it. I am not racist I have been there. Have you spanner?
Dec 4, 2011. 5:12 PMjomishx says:
I wish i had not looked at that picture now. Americans obviously do not see dogs as food, but we cannot blame others for eating what is available. Still gotta feel bad for them :(
Jan 6, 2011. 6:27 PMspanner1969 says:
they DO NOT eat dog in Indonesia.

They are an Islamic country and moslems do not touch dogs. If a dog licks them they must undergo a purifacation at the local mosque.

Your racist ignorance is dispicable.
Jul 20, 2011. 4:11 PMAERenoir says:
Oh, says who? Indonesia is not a Muslim country, it's a country with a Muslim-majority population. Those who aren't Muslim can touch dogs all they want. I'm Indonesian, and I'm not Muslim. I even own two dogs.

That being said, sure Indonesians do eat dogs. Not ALL of them do, as it's not a common delicacy, but there are some people who do. I've known some places where they go and cook dogs (sometimes even cats too).

Aug 22, 2011. 7:20 PMspanner1969 says:
I was replying in a generalist manner in which the comment made (to which I was replying) was made in a generalistic manner.

The original comments was suggesting that as a general rule ALL indonesians eat dogs.

Just so you know you may well be Orang Indonesian tetapi saya tingal di Indonesia juga.

I also have eaten dog, and other 'bizarre' foods.

Oriole was being not so subtle in his/her racism and I do not tolerate rascim .

Thankyou,

Spanner
Aug 22, 2011. 2:15 AMsweetpoetaoe says:
I've known americans to eat dogs as well. All though usaully in roadkill scenario
Dec 4, 2011. 5:15 PMjomishx says:
Where do u live? I'll make sure not to visit.
Jan 30, 2012. 8:38 PMFlatLinerMEDIC says:
True that...
Dec 27, 2010. 10:32 PMbillybobjhonson says:
thailand dude, they do it there too
Sep 11, 2010. 1:04 AMbeehard44 says:
lol
Nov 4, 2011. 6:13 AMmmanjunath says:
IN INDIA SNAKES , DOGS, CATS, CROCODILES ARE NOT EATEN.

I FEEL THAT MY COUNTRY IS REALLY VERY GENEROUS & GREAT IN

HUMANITY CHARACTER
Nov 24, 2011. 10:57 AMPerfectPantaloons says:
WTF DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING???

Stop sharing useless information
Nov 21, 2011. 11:20 AMTYtheParacordGUY says:
Thank you for that piece of probably unusefull information...
Nov 14, 2011. 12:11 PMklincecum says:
That's nice and thanks for yelling at us.
Nov 13, 2011. 3:00 AMClareBS says:
New Zealand has no snakes but plenty of unnecessary rodents, all introduced. Although I'm glad I won't have the opportunity to try out this instructable, it is very cool.
Nov 10, 2011. 2:54 PMPwag says:
Towards animals but not towards each other.
Nov 1, 2011. 6:30 AMcurvy77 says:
sooo how is it possible to make a profit from this? o and AWSOME! DEAD SNAKE!!
Oct 20, 2010. 12:48 AMxarlock667 says:
Snake "Poison" is not a real poison, it is a venom, and thus a biotoxin. In English, this means you typically have to inject it to suffer lethal effects. Not to say it won't give you a hell of a stomach ache. You can avoid salmonella, and almost any biotoxin by thorough cooking. Snake is damn good slathered with BBQ sauce, or cooked like Fajitas.

Before I get trolled, let me clarify:
Real poisons are poisonous regardless of what you do to them. EX Cyanide, Arsenic, Strychnine. Biotoxins are usually heat sensitive, and are made of proteins. They can be broken down are rendered ineffective. EX Venom, Salmonella, and Botulin.
Jun 4, 2011. 9:19 PMIncrediblyCondensedBlackMatter says:
it's also important to note that the venom isnt in most of the snake, only the head where the poison gland actually is. seeing as you dont eat that part, it's completely safe, even uncooked (venom-wise, i dont recommend it due to other diseases/toxins)
Aug 22, 2011. 7:22 PMspanner1969 says:
to be specific the venom is ONLY in the sac where the venom is stored. The rest of the snake is exactly like any other animal in terms of what you can and can not eat.
Mar 27, 2011. 2:57 PMsoapbox derby car says:
Just like to add that diamondback rattlesnake is one of the more tasty things I've had. (Fried, of course.) It's served fairly often in the Southwest United States. Diamondback venom is one of the more lethal in the US- I'd recommend getting someone else to catch your snake for ya. ;-)
Nov 18, 2010. 7:45 PMjwc1480 says:
Great info dude! Thanks. Never really thought about it like that.
Oct 28, 2010. 8:51 AMbdblock94 says:
i did not know that lol
Jan 14, 2011. 7:08 PMilpug says:
Just to verify against trolls, xarlock's info is totally correct.
May 14, 2011. 4:53 AMbowow0807 says:
my dad taught me how to clean and pluck game birds its harder than you thing unlike goose, chicken, turkey, or duck the one he gave me were tiny as in the could just sin in the palm of your hand and i gave me experience and it is much easier to clean bigger birds
Jul 18, 2011. 7:34 PMhossweightlifter says:
same i havnt done it for awhile and i got spoiled off of bigger birds and i recently did it and it was super hard
Jul 16, 2011. 7:58 AMk.bipin says:
AWESOME.. pictures dude......and even a great info on snakes.. i didn't know that. we can completely utilize a DEAD SNAKE..... keep posting new things.......


-Bipin
Jan 6, 2011. 6:58 PMdent244 says:
i beleive u can tell its gender by squeezing the sides if i remember correctally
Jun 26, 2011. 8:16 PMLostindespair says:
by very gently placing a thumb above and below the ventrical and rolling them towards each other, you can usually push the hemipenes out, and if it doesnt have hemipenes, its female : D
Jun 8, 2011. 4:08 PMPlo Koon says:
Is it really worth all the trouble. RSVP
May 7, 2009. 5:01 PMdogisdead says:
This looks delicious XD What about the bones, though? :0
Apr 23, 2011. 11:05 AMjames4 says:
looks like chicken XD mmmmm chicken
Jul 7, 2009. 12:19 PMFather Christmas says:
they make for a crunchy surprise :D
1-40 of 264next »

Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

All Steps Viewing
View all steps of an Instructable on the same page when you're a Pro Member.

Upgrade to Pro today!
414
Followers
141
Author:canida
I've been posting Instructables since the site's inception, and now run Community and Marketing. Follow me for food and more!