The ECHO first reported the issue earlier this month
The ECHO first reported the issue earlier this month
Snakes keep appearing in an area of Merseyside. Earlier this month the ECHO first reported that mum Charley Harrison, from St Helens, had been shopping at Morrisons with her children on January 12 and found an orange snake outside her front door when they returned.
At first, she thought it was her boyfriend playing a huge prank but when it started moving she soon realised it was the real deal. She said: “I screamed, I was crying saying ‘omg as if you have put a fake snake outside to scare me.’ He said ‘what the hell are you on about.’
“I told him to come outside and look. He said ‘it’s moving’ and that’s when I realised. Me and the kids were screaming.” Miss Harrison added: “I’d only been in the house around five minutes before I went out to the car. I was absolutely petrified, it felt like my worst nightmare coming true.”
Local animal sanctuary owner Jay Scott, 50, from Widnes, came to her rescue and took the snake in. She later found the snake’s owner and reunited them with the pet, which had escaped after being fed.
One week later, Miss Harrison contacted the ECHO again to say another snake – believed to be another corn snake – had wound up outside her home, sadly this time it was dead.
Ms Scott revealed it was the fourth snake she had been contacted about in the area over the last two months. She said: “Around two months ago I got a text message from a friend saying someone she knew had found a snake in Sutton – it was a corn snake – and asked if I could help. I took it in and nobody has claimed it as theirs, I still have it.
“Then, around two weeks later I had message about a post that’d be shared on Facebook saying another snake had been found in St Helens. I made contact with the lady who made the post. She said her partner had found the snake in his woodyard, sadly it had died from injuries.”
Ms Scott then rescued the first snake Miss Harrison had found, however she claims this snake was just a “massive coincidence” because it had escaped from its nearby home.
Around one week later, Miss Harrison found a dead snake in her garden. Ms Scott said: “This is the fourth snake I have been contacted about that has been found in the area. It can’t be a coincidence.”
With the cost of living and electricity prices rising, Ms Scott said: “I think people are realising they can’t afford to keep snakes. The price of their tank, heating and food can be expensive and I think people are just letting them go.”
The sanctuary owner has asked for anyone who is struggling to “please, don’t dump them” and contact her on Facebook for help.
The ECHO contacted the RSPCA about the issue. A spokesperson said: “Some people are unaware of how much of a commitment these animals are when they take them on, which we believe sadly contributes to them being abandoned or released on purpose when owners can no longer meet their needs or the novelty wears off.
“The needs of reptiles can be challenging to meet because they are just the same as they would be in the wild and are fundamentally linked to certain behaviours, diets or environmental conditions that can be difficult to replicate in a domestic environment.
“Snakes that are not native to this country need a heated environment with a specific temperature gradient for the species to regulate their body temperature. If a reptile becomes too cold they may be unable to feed or move normally and their immune system will not work properly to fight disease, meaning the animal can become very ill.
“We urge prospective owners of reptiles such as snakes to thoroughly research the needs of the particular species and what is required to care for them, using expert sources, before they consider taking one on.
“Without proper care they can suffer from serious diseases, dehydration, injuries and parasites, and in severe cases or if left untreated, they can eventually die.
“For those who find themselves struggling, there are many reputable animal welfare charities who can offer help and advice and anybody in a difficult situation is urged to seek support.”
