Woman receives 'shock of her life' after snake emerges from boiler of her new home

A woman who had recently moved into her new property in Workington received quite a fright on Monday evening when a kingsnake emerged from her boiler.

The reptile had apparently made the kitchen its dwelling, startling the homeowner when it appeared at approximately 8pm.

The unexpected encounter prompted an immediate call to Pet Encounter Cumbria, an animal sanctuary that dispatches teams to rescue abandoned and stray creatures.

Staff from the organisation arrived to collect the snake, which had clearly been living in the property for some time before the new resident took possession of the home.

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Siobhan Harkness from the sanctuary revealed the former occupant of the property had owned three snakes, which appear to have been deliberately released before they left the premises.

"The other two were yet to make an appearance," Ms Harkness noted, suggesting additional reptiles may still be hiding somewhere within the house.

Pet Encounter Cumbria now faces the possibility of further rescue calls from the same address should the remaining snakes surface in the coming days.

The rescued kingsnake had sustained damage to its scales and was described as "very hungry" when it arrived at the sanctuary.

Ms Harkness's team worked to rehydrate the reptile, conducted health checks, and provided it with food before it "settled in for the night" at their facility.

"No animal deserves to be treated like that...there are people who will help take in animals," Ms Harkness said.

"Abandoning or releasing into the wild is never the answer."

The sanctuary confirmed the snake is now recovering well and described it as "a lovely snake" that will require a permanent home, as the organisation regularly receives numerous animals needing rehoming.

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The news comes just hours after the RSPCA voiced concern following the discovery of a second boa constrictor at a Darlington golf course within seven days.

Staff at Blackwell Grange Golf Club came across the larger reptile close to the fifth fairway on Saturday morning, nearly identical to where a six-foot snake had been spotted the previous week.

The animal welfare organisation now suspects the non-native snakes, which originate from Central and South America, may have been intentionally dumped at the site.

The charity is appealing for anyone with relevant information to get in touch as it investigates the unusual incidents.

An RSPCA spokesperson said: "It's concerning to hear that another non native species of snake has reportedly been found at this location."

The charity urged those with direct knowledge of the situation to make contact, adding: "If people have first-hand information that shows these reptiles have been deliberately abandoned they should contact the RSPCA."

According to the organisation, abandoned exotic animals face significant welfare dangers, with boa constrictors specifically requiring carefully regulated living conditions, specialised feeding regimes, and handlers with appropriate expertise.

Golf club professional Aaron Cox had previously expressed unease about the situation, noting it was "a little bit worrying" given both snakes were located near a boundary accessible to the public.

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