A mum has issued a desperate plea as her family's bright orange snake could be on the loose in South Liverpool.
The snake, called Ginger, is believed to have gone missing from the Penny Lane area some time before Wednesday. Ginger, described as a bright orange corn snake, escaped from her vivarium after a panel broke loose.
Ginger's owner Katy Wafer, described her as "harmless" and "beautiful" and urged people to keep an eye out. Katy told the ECHO when they noticed she was missing, a ventilation panel appeared to have fallen on the back of her vivarium.
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She said: "Ginger was originally an Xbox. We'd got one for my son Jamie but it was making him naughty and he'd kick off. One day he said can we sell it and we got £90 for it.
"I asked him what he wanted to spend his money on and that's how Ginger came about. We got her when he was 11 and he's now 18, he's so stressed and fed up but we've not given up hope.
"We know she went missing before Wednesday because we fed her and when we looked Friday the food was still there, she always eats her food. Physically, they are really good escapologists, a ventilation panel fell out but now she could be in a wall cavity or the floor boards.
"We've turned our house upside down but with the weather getting warmer, my concern is she may have ventured further afield. Typically, they like to stay in the same area so we are asking for anyone in Penny Lane to check their gardens and sheds."
Katy said Ginger is harmless and is not venomous. She added: "I'd advise not to be scared, she's more scared than you but if anyone sees her, put a tub over her with a pan on top. Some people can handle snakes I know.
"But if found please call 101, the police have my number, or call Radio City or the ECHO or if on Facebook contact me through Scouse Pets 2 or Penny Lane Gossip.
"They tend to stay in the area and find somewhere to curl up like sheds or old rugs, and they sleep. She's totally harmless, we want her home."
According to the RSPCA, Corn snakes are mainly terrestrial and often hide in rodent burrows and under logs but can also climb well. They are mainly active at dawn and dusk and quite placid. When lifting a corn snake, the RSPCA recommends:
- Gently lift them with one hand underneath the snake near the head and another hand nearer the tail, but never grab them.
- Safe handling is around 10 to 15 minutes - any longer and their core temperature will drop too low.
- All snakes may bite under stress or if they smell food. However, corn snakes aren't venomous.
- When threatened, corn snakes may pull their head back, displaying an 'S' shaped neck. If your snake does this, handle them another time.
- Don't handle after touching prey items without washing your hands well before, otherwise, your snake may bite.
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