A Wirral woman got a shock when a vivid orange-coloured snake slithered across a drainpipe at her home.
The North American corn snake was on the loose at a property in Bidston Avenue, Birkenhead, last Saturday (July 2). It's thought he may have been discarded or he may have escaped his enclosure.
Corn snakes are among the North American species of rat snakes that kill their prey by constriction. But they are not venomous or dangerous to humans, although the RSPCA advises anyone finding a snake they believe is non-native, like this corn one, to keep a safe distance.
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RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes, who was called out when the snake was discovered, described it as "feisty" and "striking repeatedly and rattling his tail to warn me off."
He said: "The lady who found it didn't know whether it was venomous so she rang the police, who contacted me. When I went to pick him up he was actually quite aggressive. He was quite a size and that must have been a shock for the woman who was pottering around in her garden when she noticed something under the drainpipe.
"The exotics expert spotted a rib fracture and it does look like this snake has been run over by a car or motorbike. But there were no signs of neglect and he could have escaped his enclosure, so the owner is welcome to get in touch with us.
"Fortunately, I've got a vivarium set up at my home, so he stayed with me for the night, although I was advised not to feed him. He was quite a nice snake really and I think the aggression he displayed was just a bit of fear."
Anthony added: "I took him to the specialist reptile rescue and I've noticed we are getting more and more of these cases, so you do wonder about the increase in energy bills and whether people are switching off their vivariums.
"I was speaking to the specialist keeper about it when I took the snake over to him and he stressed they're not that expensive to run, so it's best if owners don’t make rash decisions."
The RSPCA said it collects more snakes over the summer months and some are thought to be escaped pets. Corn snakes can be extremely good escape artists and will take the opportunity of fleeing through a gap or a loose-fitting lid.
Owners also may not understand the financial challenges involved. For example, the majority of exotics, including reptiles, need a carefully-controlled environment requiring access to specialised equipment for lighting and 24-hour heating. In addition, many of these animals can live for decades, making this a long-term responsibility for an exotic pet keeper.
Anyone who has any information regarding the Wirral corn snake should contact the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018. The RSPCA also advises anyone finding a snake they believe is non-native, like this corn one, to keep a safe distance and call the charity's helpline on 0300 1234 999 or a local reptile charity.
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