The RSPCA is warning pet owners to be extra cautious this summer as reports of stray and escaped snakes surge.
The call comes after a juvenile corn snake (reported as a python) was found in a fish and chip shop in Greenwich, London last week (7 July). The pet had escaped from one of the flats above the shop and was returned to its owner.
New data, released ahead of National Snake Day (16 July) suggests that such reports become more common during the summer months, with July, August and September seeing the highest number of snake incidents.
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Stray snake reports rising
In 2024, there were 383 snake-related reports during July, August and September – 18% up from the previous year. Given this upward trend, the RSPCA fears the total for this summer could increase again.
“Snakes are excellent escape artists and will take the opportunity of a gap in an enclosure door, or a loose-fitting lid to make a break for it,” says RSPCA senior scientific officer Evie Button.
“Last year, we took almost 1,000 reports about snakes – more than in 2023 – with the highest number of calls coming in during the summer months.”
Essex, Norfolk, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire were among the areas with the highest number of snake-related reports in 2024, according to the data.
As the UK continues to experience hot weather, the RSPCA is asking pet-snake owners to ensure their pets' enclosures are secure. Escapes are more likely in summer, as snakes become more active in the heat. Some owners also take snakes outside to benefit from natural sunlight, but the charity warns that snakes can move quickly and disappear if not properly contained.
The charity is also urging the public to learn how to identify native snakes, such as grass snakes and adders, which should be left alone unless injured.
Suspected escaped pets should be observed from a distance. Advice on what to do if you find one can be found on the RSPCA website.
Abandoned snakes are also common. The RSPCA believes this is partly due to people underestimating the care these exotic animals need. Without the appropriate heating, lighting and food, snakes can suffer from dehydration, disease and injury. Non-native snakes released into the wild may also threaten native species – it is illegal to release any non-native animal in the UK.
Top image: corn snake (not the individual found in the fish and chip shop). Credit: Getty
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