News

Driving instructor stops for exotic snake

By Stephen Lloyd
May 21, 2009

A DRIVING instructor was left in a spin when he came across an exotic snake in the middle of a busy road.

Stuart Taylor was giving a lesson in Fleet at about 2.30pm on Tuesday May when he came across the strange sight.

“My pupil was driving down Kings Road, almost opposite Lynchford Tyres, when I noticed what appeared to be a piece of rope lying in the road,” he said.

“As we approached I noticed it started to move across the road and realised it was a snake. There was no other car behind us at the time and my pupil was able to conduct a faultless emergency stop.”

With the help of a passing dog walker, Mr Taylor managed to get the snake into a plastic carrier bag.

After the driving lesson he took the snake to Pets Emporium in Sandhurst.

“My 10-year-old son keeps three corn snakes at home, which we got from Pets Emporium. We have always found Pete, the owner, to be very knowledgeable and helpful,” said Mr Taylor, of Swale Road, Farnborough.

“He was able to identify the snake for me, which comes from the southern states of the USA, and confirmed it was not poisonous.

“Pete seemed to think the snake had possibly been living outside for a couple of weeks as it was looking a little underweight.

“Apart from that and the fact that it is shedding its skin, it looked quite healthy.”

The snake is currently living in a spare vivarium at Mr Taylor’s home where it is being well looked after and fed.

“The question is how did a snake from the southern states of the USA come to be crossing the road in Fleet?” asked Mr Taylor.

“I would like to hope that it has escaped from someone’s vivarium and, like our corn snakes, is well-looked after and cared for.

“If that is the case and if anyone contacts me who has recently lost a snake in the Pondtail area of Fleet and can identify the type of snake, then I will gladly return it to them.

“The other alternative, which doesn’t bear thinking about, is that someone has grown fed up with it, can’t afford to keep it or for any other reason has chosen to release it into the wild.

“That is something I truly cannot understand as there are a number of rescue organisations around which I am sure would have found it a suitable home.

“I only hope that I am able to return this snake to its caring owner.”

Anyone who knows the owner of the snake can call Mr Taylor on 07786517855.

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