A milk snake — a much smaller species than the pictured reptile — was found underneath a compost heap in Donington, England, 15 months after escaping from its owner’s home. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Feb. 10 (UPI) — A pet snake that escaped from its owner’s home in England was found 15 months later living comfortably under a neighbor’s compost heap.
Mark Gordon-Hill said his pet milk snake escaped from his reptile room in Donington, Lincolnshire, and he was shocked to see photos of the serpent on social media 15 months later.
Donington resident Emma Dormer had posted photos to a local Facebook group showing the snake her husband found living under the compost heap in their garden.
“Is anyone missing a pet snake? We have found this under our compost heap in Donington. We are on station street near bates. Any advice would be great,” Dormer wrote.
Gordon-Hill said he quickly recognized his pet.
“There was this little inkling in my head. I was like — that’s exactly the same snake that went missing a year ago, and then when I got there, I was like, yeah, that’s my snake,” he told the BBC. “The markings, a deforming on the tail, which I knew was my snake straight away.”
Gordon-Hill said the snake appears to be in good health and had likely found plenty of food in his neighbor’s garden.
“It was heartwarming. There’s hope out there for if anyone does lose any animal, any reptile, it’s nice that it has survived and has come back to its proper home,” he said.
