A typical Sunday evening for the Pantziz family of Lincolnshire, England, quickly turned into a nightmare when they discovered an unexpected intruder lurking beneath their couch – a large snake, not native to the UK. As the family enjoyed their quiet evening of television, the slithery creature popped its head out, causing immediate panic and sending the family running for safety.
Harry Pantziz, the family patriarch, recounted the terrifying experience. “I didn’t know what it was. We all ran into the garden,” he said, still clearly shaken. “My wife called someone. We were watching from the window. It was a little scary.”
And who could blame him? The idea of a dangerous reptile slithering around your living room isn’t exactly the way most people imagine spending their Sunday nights. Fortunately, the family acted quickly, contacting Ark Wildlife & Dinosaur Park, a nearby facility that sent an expert to handle the situation.
Initially, wildlife expert Jamie Mintram, who responded to the call, thought the snake might be a harmless, native species looking for a place to hibernate. However, upon arrival, it became immediately clear that this was no ordinary snake. “As soon as I saw this little guy’s head poking out from underneath the sofa, I realized he certainly wasn’t a native species,” Mintram explained.
The snake was identified as a Florida Kingsnake, a non-venomous species native to the United States. Despite its intimidating appearance, the Florida Kingsnake poses no direct threat to humans. However, its presence in a family’s living room in central England was anything but ordinary. This four-foot-long reptile, commonly bred for the pet trade, had clearly escaped from its owner, underscoring the challenges of owning exotic animals.
Mintram noted that snakes are “incredibly good at escape, being escape artists,” and this particular snake, now named Micky, was likely someone’s pet. The Ark Wildlife & Dinosaur Park is temporarily housing Micky while efforts are made to locate his owner. Thankfully, the snake was found in good health and is being properly cared for until the owner is identified.
While the Pantziz family can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the snake posed no serious danger, their harrowing experience highlights a larger issue – the risks associated with exotic pets. Florida Kingsnakes, while legal to own in the UK, are not native to the environment, and when they escape, they can cause both fear and potential ecological problems.
Exotic pet ownership has become more popular in recent years, but this incident serves as a stark reminder that these animals require specialized care and attention. Escaped pets can lead to dangerous situations for unsuspecting families, especially when dealing with creatures that are far outside their natural habitat.
While some may see a harmless snake slithering around as no big deal, others may ask: why are non-native species like Florida Kingsnakes even allowed in the UK? This incident begs the question of whether regulations should be tighter on the exotic pet trade to ensure that similar incidents are avoided in the future.
As for the Pantziz family, their brush with the wild serves as a reminder that while exotic pets might be fascinating, they don’t belong under your couch.
A typical Sunday evening for the Pantziz family of Lincolnshire, England, quickly turned into a nightmare when they discovered an unexpected intruder lurking beneath their couch – a large snake, not native to the UK. As the family enjoyed their quiet evening of television, the slithery creature popped its head out, causing immediate panic and sending the family running for safety.
Harry Pantziz, the family patriarch, recounted the terrifying experience. “I didn’t know what it was. We all ran into the garden,” he said, still clearly shaken. “My wife called someone. We were watching from the window. It was a little scary.”
And who could blame him? The idea of a dangerous reptile slithering around your living room isn’t exactly the way most people imagine spending their Sunday nights. Fortunately, the family acted quickly, contacting Ark Wildlife & Dinosaur Park, a nearby facility that sent an expert to handle the situation.
Initially, wildlife expert Jamie Mintram, who responded to the call, thought the snake might be a harmless, native species looking for a place to hibernate. However, upon arrival, it became immediately clear that this was no ordinary snake. “As soon as I saw this little guy’s head poking out from underneath the sofa, I realized he certainly wasn’t a native species,” Mintram explained.
The snake was identified as a Florida Kingsnake, a non-venomous species native to the United States. Despite its intimidating appearance, the Florida Kingsnake poses no direct threat to humans. However, its presence in a family’s living room in central England was anything but ordinary. This four-foot-long reptile, commonly bred for the pet trade, had clearly escaped from its owner, underscoring the challenges of owning exotic animals.
Mintram noted that snakes are “incredibly good at escape, being escape artists,” and this particular snake, now named Micky, was likely someone’s pet. The Ark Wildlife & Dinosaur Park is temporarily housing Micky while efforts are made to locate his owner. Thankfully, the snake was found in good health and is being properly cared for until the owner is identified.
While the Pantziz family can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the snake posed no serious danger, their harrowing experience highlights a larger issue – the risks associated with exotic pets. Florida Kingsnakes, while legal to own in the UK, are not native to the environment, and when they escape, they can cause both fear and potential ecological problems.
Exotic pet ownership has become more popular in recent years, but this incident serves as a stark reminder that these animals require specialized care and attention. Escaped pets can lead to dangerous situations for unsuspecting families, especially when dealing with creatures that are far outside their natural habitat.
While some may see a harmless snake slithering around as no big deal, others may ask: why are non-native species like Florida Kingsnakes even allowed in the UK? This incident begs the question of whether regulations should be tighter on the exotic pet trade to ensure that similar incidents are avoided in the future.
As for the Pantziz family, their brush with the wild serves as a reminder that while exotic pets might be fascinating, they don’t belong under your couch.
