Kent saw the joint-second most snake-related occurrences reported to the RSPCA in England and Wales in 2022, according to the charity. It comes as an “escaping snake alert” has actually been activated by hot summer season weather condition and a June heatwave, with the nation’s animal owners prompted to be additional vigilant.
An overall of 39 snake occurrences were reported in Kent in 2022. This is the very same as in South Yorkshire and approximately one-third of England and Wales’ snake event hotspot of Greater London where there were 110 reports made in the very same 12-month duration.
Neighbouring East Sussex saw 22 occurrences while Essex tape-recorded 33. Cumbria and the Isle of Wight each reported simply one case, while England’s overall was 995 and England and Wales integrated was 1,031.
Senior clinical officer at the RSPCA Evie Button explained snakes as “excellent escape artists” and said they will take any chance of a space or loose fitting in their enclosure to “make a break for it”. She included that of the more than 1,000 snake-related reports made to the charity, summer season bring the greatest variety of calls.
Read more: Inside the £1million transformed Kent barn with sensational gardens, artist’s studio and stables
“This is not surprising, as snakes become more active during hot weather” she continued. “So as the UK continues to swelter this summer, we’re braced for another influx of calls.” The RSPCA went on to prompt all snake owners to be additional alert and to buy an appropriate enclosure that is locked and secure when ignored.
The RSPCA’s emergency situation line saw a boost in calls in between 2021 and 2022 with almost 1.1 million received in 2015. Frontline officers are said to be working “flat out” as an outcome and attempting to rescue animals that might be in lethal circumstances.
Evie continued: “Many of the snakes the RSPCA’s officers are called to collect are thought to be escaped pets. But sadly, we also have to deal with a lot of abandoned snakes. We find that many people are unaware of how much of a commitment these animals are when they take them on, which we believe contributes to the hundreds of animals every year who have sadly been abandoned when their owners can no longer meet their needs.”
The RSPCA has actually alerted anyone who discovers a snake they think to be non-native to the UK to keep a safe range and to call a regional reptile charity or the RSPCA’s hotline on 0300 1234 999. Advice on snake ownership can be discovered online .
Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox totally free HERE .
