- It is believed the snake had slithered into the Lancashire home via an open door
As any parent will testify, all manner of things can end up under the sofa. But a family in Lincolnshire had the shock of their lives when they came home from a day out – and saw a 3ft-long snake peering out at them.
Keepers at Ark Wildlife and Dinosaur Park said they received a call for help on Sunday from a ‘clearly distraught lady’ who had spotted the reptile’s head.
By the time staff arrived to help at the house in Boston, the family-of-four were cowering in the back garden – while the metre-long Florida kingsnake remained under the sofa, oblivious to their terror.
Keepers at the wildlife park in Stickney, Lincolnshire, have nicknamed the harmless reptile Mickey.
Householder Harry Pantziz admitted he had been ‘afraid’ at encountering the snake, adding: ‘I didn’t know what it was…it was a little scary’.
A family were left shocked to find a metre-long Florida kingsnake peering out from the bottom of their sofa
Luckily Jamie Mintram (Pictured) Ark Wildlife and Dinosaur Park came to collect the slithery intruder
It is thought Micky slithered into the home through an open door. It is not known where he escaped from, with efforts ongoing to track down his owners.
Jamie Mintram, who collected the slippery intruder and took Mickey back to the wildlife park, said: ‘When I turned up, the whole family were standing outside in the garden.
‘They were not very happy about his (the snake’s) presence.’
Mr Mintram said he understood why the family were scared.
‘If you aren’t used to snakes, having one turn up in your house in the middle of the night is probably going to freak you out,’ he admitted.
Mr Mintram said he took Micky – who was found to be “lethargic” due to being cold – back to the park.
Now warmed up and fed, the snake ‘is doing rather well’, said Mr Mintram, adding the creature had ‘become more active’.
He added: ‘We’re keen to see if we can find an owner who might have lost him. Snakes are very good escape artists.’
According to Ark Wildlife & Dinosaur Park, Florida Kingsnakes are typically about 3ft (1m) in length but said they had been known to reach 5ft 11in (1.8m).
It is believed the snake nicknamed Mickey had made his way into the home via an open door, however it is not clear where he has come from
Snake catcher Jamie revealed that the family weren’t to pleased to see Mickey making his way through their living room
Now the snake is doing rather well, however the charity are currently on the hunt to find Mickey’s owners
A spokesperson for the charity said Micky ‘probably entered the home looking for warmth’, noting he ‘wouldn’t have survived for long outside’ given the low temperatures.
In August, a family found a ball python while blackberry picking in a Birmingham park.
Tom Gallant, his wife Jenna, their three-year-old daughter Eden and newborn son Oliver found the snake – which had been on the loose for at least a fonight – behind a bench in Ley Hill Park near their home in the Birmingham suburb of Northfield.
Several sightings had been reported of the five-foot long reptile – initially thought to be a boa constrictor – which was dubbed the Brummie Boa.
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