A Snake in My House

Sylvana · #1 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 08:47 PM

Yesterday after lunch about 2.pm, I looked up and saw a snake crawling along the top of the TV. After the intitial scream, we got a bucket ready to put him in to to take him into the garden, We were assured from the RSPCA that it was probably a grass snake, but he was about 3-4 ft long and before we got him, he crawled into a small hole behind the box that houses the central heating pipes. We then spent the afternoon and evening 'watching' the hole waiting for him to appear again so we could get him. It was 10.30pm before we captured him to release him.
Question..1. Why would he come into the house (we have a pond fairly near the window)

Question 2. I have a Siamese cat, if we had not seen the snake in the first place, who would have attacked who, and who would have come off worse?

wildliferescuer · #2 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 09:22 PM

What was the description of the snake, colour, markings etc?

Naturenutz · #3 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 09:22 PM

Grass snakes are not poisonous and they like to live near ponds etc,they have a yellow/orange collar around the neck and are greenish/brown.
The cat just may have had a go but im sure it would have been very wary and probably more curious.the snake would probably hide from the cat as they eat smaller prey ,nothing anywhere near that large.The cat would be in no danger but the snake would be in my opinion anyway.

volence · #4 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 09:36 PM

Do grass snakes go into houses? I thought they'd stay away from people.
Sylvana, if its not a grass snake or adder (you'll know it by the dark zigzag down the back) it could be someones pet that has escaped. If you could describe it we could know what it is

volence · #5 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 10:16 PM

I can help you find it if it is in your house, make sure you have a plastic tub hany, big enough for the snake but with a strong lid and air holes.
If you have a hard wood/tile floor putting flour down will show any tracks. Strips of rustly carrier bags laid on a floor will alert you if the snake is there moving about. Check warm spots like the back of fridge freezers, radiators and check curtain rails. If you do catch it and you know it's not a wild species please dont release it into the wild as this is illegal and you may lose someones beloved pet. If it is not a wild snake let me know and I may know people who can take it off your hands.

Sylvana · #6 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 10:38 PM

Thanks for your replies. We did take a pictue of it before releasing it, but I am new here and not sure how to attach a picture. Will it work with photobucket? Help would be welcome.
He was dark greenish/ brown with a light bit by his head. His head was sort of black and whitish.

Doggle Avaddit · #7 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 10:47 PM

How do I upload images? | Wild About Britain

Kayleigh · #8 (**permalink**) 02-08-2009, 11:01 PM

Its a grass snake..

Welcome to WAB

volence · #9 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 01:55 AM

Yeah a lovely looking grass snake. Your so lucky, I've never seen one

Jonners · #10 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 08:30 PM

Your cat may have caught it and brought it home. Grass snakes will often feign death to escape a potential predator, and they can also give off a terrible stink to deter anything holding it. We once had a cat who brought home a much smaller grass snake, and I thought it WAS dead so I put it on a garden table, only to return a short while later to discover it had disappeared! It had been lying absolutely motionless, head tipped over, and no reaction when touched.
Well done for catching it, and thanks for sharing your amazing story and photo with WAB.