The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife is mourning the loss of Cobb, a longtime corn snake Animal Ambassador who helped thousands of visitors learn more about snakes and the important role they play in Southwest Florida’s ecosystems.
Unlike the wildlife patients treated at CROW’s hospital, Animal Ambassadors are permanent residents who cannot be released into the wild. Through educational programs and public appearances, they give visitors an up-close look at native wildlife while helping dispel misconceptions and build appreciation for species that are often misunderstood.
For Cobb, that meant showing countless visitors and students that snakes are something to understand and respect — not fear.
Volunteers Jim Columbo and Merry Merryfield began working with CROW’s snake ambassadors in 2020 and formed a special bond with Cobb. Each week, they spend time providing the snakes with enrichment, including supervised opportunities to explore outdoors and experience new sights, scents, and surroundings.
“Cobb was a wonderful snake to work with and was especially good to handle because of his easy-going nature,” says Columbo. “We would take him out on the grass across from the parking lot and he loved to burrow into the tall grass or leaf litter to try and hide. It was always a challenge to keep track of him because, with his coloration, he could disappear right before our eyes. We will miss him.”
Cobb originally came to CROW from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation in 2019. Because his early history was unknown, it was never determined whether he had been wild-caught or hatched in human care. What became certain, however, was that Cobb had found an important role at CROW.
Over the years, he became a familiar face — and favorite — among volunteers, staff and visitors.
Brittnay Laster, CROW’s Education and Outreach Coordinator, was Cobb’s primary caretaker during the past 3 years.
“I have worked with nine different corn snakes,” says Laster. “That said, I can easily say that Cobb was the gentlest and friendliest of them all.”
For the past few weeks, Cobb had been fighting some health issues and was under the care of CROW’s veterinary staff. After trying various treatments, our team made the decision to help Cobb pass peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
To honor Cobb’s life and his years as an ambassador, CROW is inviting members of the community to share cards, photos and memories of him.
Cards can be sent to CROW, P.O. Box 150; Sanibel, FL 33957. Photos can be mailed or shared on social media with the tag @crowclinic and #crowcobb.
Cards will be placed near Cobb’s enclosure as a memorial in the nonprofit’s Visitor Education Center.
To learn more about Animal Ambassadors at CROW, visit crowclinic.org.