The cornsnake was discovered late final week in Kilkenny through the very chilly climate and was dropped off on the National Reptile Zoo which relies in Kilkenny City.
The search is now beneath solution to find the snake’s proprietor and reunite them with their misplaced pet.
“He was found at Nowlan Park near the hurling stadium in Kilkenny City. We got a call to say a snake had been found in the area and we asked for a few photographs of the snake first so we could check if it was venomous. But the guy just turned up at the door of the reptile zoo about 30 minutes later with the snake in a bag,” chuckled the Zoo Director, James Hennessy.
“We have had venomous snakes dropped off to us in the past, so sometimes picking it up and catching it can be dangerous in case it is venomous.”
Luckily the snake was not a harmful breed and was a standard cornsnake.
“It was a cornsnake which is a North American breed and fairly a standard pet,” defined James.
“The snake is a striped cornsnake that’s slightly below 3ft lengthy. It’s not a uncommon snake, cornsnakes are bred in numerous completely different patterns for the pet commerce, so this snake has a really particular color and sample. It is tough to guess the age of the snake however I’m guessing it’s not less than two years old.”
James added the proprietor of the snake have to be dwelling in Kilkenny City, close to to the place the snake was discovered as they don’t are inclined to journey far.
“The snakes will journey perhaps 500 metres to a kilometre, so the snake might be from across the space it was discovered.”
The Cornsnake is a standard breed for a pet snake. Photo: The National Reptile Zoo
The cornsnake was fortunate to be rescued because the chilly climate meant it could not have lasted lengthy fending for itself.
“It was discovered when it received to round minus six levels throughout that basically, actually unhealthy spell of chilly climate. I don’t assume it had been exterior for lengthy as a result of if it was uncovered long run to that temperature, it could have died for certain.
“But the cornsnake is a North American species in order that they do get colder winters than us, however they do have to discover a frost-free place to hibernate so it positively shouldn’t have been out within the open in these temperatures as a result of it positively would have died.”
Although this little snake was not harmful, James would advise anybody who comes throughout a snake to verify they know the breed of the snake earlier than attempting to catch it.
“If you aren’t aware of what species the snake is certainly attempt take an image of the snake first and provides us a name. If you could possibly cowl it with a bucket or one thing like that within the quick time period that might be a good suggestion.
“But 99.9% of the time the snake goes to be a totally innocent species, however there was instances the place we’ve got handled venomous snakes which have turned up so you’re higher off being further cautious.”
