A SNAKE who became trapped in a tiny hole in his own vivarium a has been rescued by the RSPCA – with a little bit of help from local firefighters – and a copy of the Redditch Standard.
The snake – a four foot long corn snake known as Zippy – was wedged tight in the hole in the glass when RSPCA Inspector Thea Kerrison received a call to help the renegade reptile in Batchley.
She said: “The owners had been cleaning the tank and had removed the lock that goes through the glass leaving a small 2cm hole.
“Zippy had started to try and squeeze through the hole and got wedged.
“They had already tried different things to get him out but he was properly stuck when I arrived.
“We don’t carry any kit to deal with cutting glass so I called Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and the local Redditch team came to help – they were fantastic.
“They covered the glass both sides with a sticky film and then smashed it using a special tool. They then peeled back some of the film and the snake was freed.”
With the Standard being used to catch all the broken glass Zippy was uninjured after his ordeal and was left in the care of his owners who were advised to take him to get him checked over by a vet if they had any concerns for his welfare.
Corn snakes can live for between 10 and 15 years.
Anyone who would like further information on how to care for corn snakes should visit: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/other/cornsnake
To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit: www.rspca.org.uk/give
For an RSPCA YouTube video about caring for corn snake see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=DcmgdNYXWRo