California kingsnake found in Leith cutlery drawer

A CALIFORNIA kingsnake has been rescued by the Scottish SPCA after a terrified Edinburgh woman found him in her cutlery drawer.

This California kingsnake, dubbed Zak, was found in a cutlery drawer. Picture: Scottish SPCA

The resident of Lindsay Road in Leith discovered the creature in her flat kitchen and called a friend for help before alerting Scotland’s animal welfare charity.

The two foot long snake is being cared for at the Scottish SPCA’s Balerno Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre, where he has been named Zak.

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The woman reached in for cutlery and instead found a snake. Picture: Scottish SPCA

Animal rescue officer Fiona Thorburn said, “The lady was just about to have her dinner and got a real fright when she reached into the drawer to grab cutlery and found Zak curled up on the knives and forks.

“As she has a phobia of snakes, she called her friend for help to contain him, only to discover that he had disappeared from the drawer.

“Thankfully they managed to locate him in a cupboard elsewhere in the kitchen before he sneaked away.

“Zak is quite large for an escapee and it’s usually smaller snakes that can squeeze through pipework in flats.

The woman reached in for cutlery and instead found a snake. Picture: Scottish SPCA

“However, all snakes can be really good escape artists so there’s every chance Zak has an owner nearby who is looking for him.”

Anyone who recognises Zak is being asked to call the Scottish SPCA animal helpline on 03000 999 999.