The RSPCA and Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service had a sssssurprising call-out last week after a pet snake escaped and got stuck on the roof!
The animal welfare charity was contacted on Friday afternoon (20th April) by a woman from Portsmouth whose partner’s pet snake had escaped.
RSPCA inspector Alan Browning said: “I must admit I did a bit of a double-take when I looked at my job list to see my next call-out was logged as: ‘Snake on roof’!
“The caller said the snake had escaped and slithered into the eaves of the loft before getting outside and was now stuck on the roof of the two-storey house.”
Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service was also called and attended the scene.
“When I arrived I found the snake had managed to get itself stuck in the gap between a window and a fascia board,” Inspector Browning added.
An animal rescue specialist from the fire service was able to partially remove the window so the adult snake – around 5ft long – could escape and retreat back inside into the loft space where it was caught.
“Luckily, the firefighters were able to remove the window to help free the snake” he added. “When he retreated back into the loft space we were able to apprehend him so I could give him a check-up.
“The corn snake wasn’t injured so I returned him to his very relieved owner.”
Corn snakes are talented escape artists so it is important that owners make sure that vivariums are kept secure to prevent accidental escape.
The RSPCA currently has dozens of reptiles in its care looking for new but knowledgeable homes. For more information on rehoming reptiles visit www.rspca.org.uk/findapet. For more information about the care of exotic pets please visit www.rspca.org.uk/exotics.
To help the RSPCA continue rescuing animals please donate by visiting www.rspca.org.uk/give
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