A woman in Workington, Cumbria, received a terrifying surprise after discovering a large kingsnake hiding in her boiler shortly after moving into her new home. The reptile emerged from the appliance around 8pm on Monday, prompting the homeowner to immediately contact Pet Encounter Cumbria, an animal sanctuary that rescues abandoned and stray creatures.
Snake Found in Kitchen Boiler
Staff from the sanctuary arrived at the property and safely collected the snake, which had clearly been living in the house for some time before the new resident took possession. Siobhan Harkness, from Pet Encounter Cumbria, said the previous occupant owned three snakes and appeared to have released them before vacating the property. She added that the other two snakes have not yet been found.
Snake Hungry and Injured
Harkness reported that the kingsnake was found to be "very hungry" and had suffered damage to its scales. The snake is now receiving care at the sanctuary and will soon be available for adoption. "No animal deserves to be treated like that...there are people who will help take in animals. Abandoning or releasing into the wild is never the answer," Harkness said. "It is a lovely snake who will be needing to find its forever home as sadly we get loads of animals in for rehoming."
Sanctuary Urges Responsible Pet Ownership
Pet Encounter Cumbria regularly handles cases of abandoned exotic pets and urges owners to seek help rather than releasing animals into the wild. The sanctuary is now caring for the kingsnake and hopes to find it a suitable permanent home.
