A four-foot snake is on the loose in Keswick after being spotted by shocked residents at a retirement complex in the town.
The brightly coloured corn snake – normally found in the USA – is believed to have been a pet which had escaped from a local home.
Orange with distinctive black and cream markings, it sent residents scuttling back inside after they saw it lazing in the sun in the communal gardens at Greta Gardens in Crow Park Road.
Linda Brown, of Greta Gardens, said one of them who had been sitting outside enjoying the warm weather told her: “I don’t want to go outside as there is a snake!” Linda added: “I thought it was a joke but they showed me and sure enough there was an orange marked snake. I told the others in the garden to beware where they were standing and there was a mixture of amazement and alarm – shock and horror by some.”
At the time, it was thought that the snake was an adder but after posting a photograph on social media, it was found to be a corn snake and probably someone’s pet. Linda said: “There were plenty of comments and one possible owner who lost a similar snake a year ago but although we saw the snake the next day, it has now disappeared and hasn’t been seen for a week.
“I have held a snake, so I’m not really worried but I have done some research and if it gets cold, then snakes will try to come inside to stay warm. We are all living with the knowledge we could share our home with this snake!”
The snake was last spotted on Tuesday 9th June. Corn snakes are non-venomous and although they subdue small prey like rats and mice by constriction, they are harmless to humans. A species of the rat snake, they are docile, reluctant to bite and moderate-sized, with attractive colouring and markings, making them popular as pets.
