A SCOTTISH national park authority has warned people to be aware of a potential "escaped or abandoned" eight-foot snake.
It comes after Thomas Hanlan was fishing on the island of Inchtavannach in Loch Lomond on Monday afternoon when he found an eight-foot snake skin in the water.
The fisherman initially thought he had reeled in a fishing net but soon realised that it was a serpent’s shedded skin.
The 51-year-old held up the snake skin and said it was eight-feet long, two-feet taller than him, and around 10 inches wide – realising it probably didn’t come from an adder or grass snake.
Adders are the only native snake to Scotland and are normally between 60 and 80cm in length – far smaller than the discovered serpent skin.
The Loch Lomond Park authority has now issued a warning that there could be an escaped or abandoned pet snake around the island.
They also said that if anyone visits Inchtavannach and dooes spot a large snake to keep their distance and contact the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA).
A spokesperson for Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority said: “NatureScot and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority are aware of the report of a large snake skin reported found on the island of Inchtavannach.
“We would ask that if any visitors to the island see further signs of a snake which could be an escaped or abandoned pet, remain at a safe distance and contact the SSPCA on 03000 999 999 who can provide further advice.”
Hanlan said on Monday that he believed the skin could be from a pet snake that had been abandoned on the remote island.
He also didn’t rule out the possibility of it even being a prank to scare away any potential visitors.
“I go fishing and kayaking on the island, and I came across it right away,” he told STV News on Monday.
“At first I thought it was a fishing net. I held it up and it was eight feet tall, which is two foot bigger than man, and when we opened it up it was about ten inches wide.
“I was astonished to see it, it’s the strangest thing I’ve found.
“Snakes this size are not native to the country. We can get adders, or grass snakes, but their skin is usually only two feet. I think it could be a boa constrictor, or a python that has been let loose.
“Anyway, I was off the island rapid.”
