Meet the Pet Snake That Escaped but Came Back… A Year Later!

We’ve all seen the heartbreaking posts on social media where owners have lost their pet cat or dog. A lost snake is rarer but it can happen. The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in the UK has an even more unusual story. They had the pleasure of reuniting a pet corn snake with its owner. What makes the story so incredible is that this snake went missing a year ago!

SCPA social media posts appealed for help when a snake was handed into their Glasgow animal rescue and rehoming center early in October 2023. The staff was overjoyed when an owner came forward but was shocked to find out that the corn snake, called Emett, had gone missing a whole 12 months before. Somehow, the small snake had survived severe weather and low temperatures over a Scottish winter. We know Emett has settled back at home. He has had a bath, a good meal, and has even shed his skin since returning from his adventure.

Do Corn Snakes Make Good Pets?

Corn snakes are one of the most popular species of snakes to have as a pet. They come in a variety of amazing colors and patterns and they are one of the most simple snakes to look after. Most of them have great personalities and are not aggressive. Many owners become very fond of them. You will need to set up a suitable vivarium with the right temperature and humidity for your pet. They only need to be fed about once a week when they are young and once a fortnight when they are older. The snakes also live around 15 years, so you have a long time to enjoy your reptile companion.

How Often Do Pet Snakes Escape?

Unfortunately, it is not unusual for pet snakes to escape. Snakes love to explore their environment and if they find a hole, they will try to fit through it. However, many snakes are also able to nudge the lids off enclosures if they are not properly secured. You need to remember that if a snake can get its head through a hole it can probably get the rest of its body through there as well. They can use their very flexible muscles and skeleton to force their way through quite tiny spaces.

You can prevent this from happening by ensuring that their enclosures are properly secured. Top screens are a particularly vulnerable area because the glue on the sides can wear and be ripped off. You also need to remember to close it correctly when you have finished tending to your pet!