A SNAKE HAS been spotted on the loose in Fordstown, Meath this week and a local animal sanctuary is trying to track it down.

Local Fianna Fáil TD Shane Cassells posted a photo of the snake to Facebook stating that a number of local residents spotted it in Fordstown.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, Kevin Cunningham of the National Exotic Animal Sanctuary (NEAS) said that looking at the photographs, the reptile appears to be a corn snake.

“The snake has been seen as far as we can ascertain for a least three weeks on one or two occasions,” Cunningham said.
https://www.facebook.com/cassells4meathwest/photos/a.1614347005470460.1073741829.1613719375533223/1930002507238240/?type=3&permPage=1

He asked any local residents who spot the snake to approach it with caution, take a photograph of it and call NEAS or a local veterinary.

“A corn snake is not dangerous, it’s a non-venomous snake,” he said.

Like most animals, if you approach it and it feels threatened it will bite you, possibly, but not in the sense that it will inject venom into you.

You would really have to be harassing it for it to retaliate like that.

“From the corn snake’s point of view, if somebody does approach it it’s just going to want to get away. We’re a lot bigger than it is, it’s only a three or four-foot long snake and if it sees a five or six-foot person coming up it’s going to want to get away and hide,” he said.

The snake is most likely to appear in warmer weather, according to Cunningham.

Snakes are cold blooded animals, so they make the most of the sunshine, like most Irish people when we get good weather, they’re out and they’re basking in the sunshine.

NEAS provides help to unwanted and neglected exotic animals needing permanent expert care and specialised accommodation.

Last month, a corn snake was found up a tree in Ballybrack, south Dublin. He was taken to the Bairbre O’Malley Veterinary Hospital, Bray for care.

If you spot the snake, Cunningham advised that you contact the organisation at 085 8465464.

Read: German police use water cannon on G20 protestors

More: DUP hits out at the Irish government for ‘sticking its nose in’ Stormont talks

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More