Snakes that escaped zoo found in walls of homes

Research has found that the aesculapian snake has been found in roofs and walls of Welsh houses

One of the largest snake species in Europe has been found in the roofs and walls of houses in Wales, researchers have found.

These aesculapian snakes originally escaped from the Welsh Mountain Zoo, in Colwyn Bay, Conwy, around 50 years ago and there have been a total of 240 snakes found in the surrounding area since.

The large snakes can grow up to 6ft (1.8m), though the largest one recorded in Wales was 5ft (1.5m).

Dr Tom Major, 33, who led the two-year-long study as a PhD student at Bangor University, said the snakes saw the nearby houses as a "warm and safe retreat".

However, these species of snake are isolated to only the Colwyn Bay area in Wales, and have not been sighted anywhere else in the country.

Dr Major, who now lives in Bournemouth, reassured that the cold-blooded predators were "completely harmless" to humans, and non-venomous.

He said the majority of residents of Colwyn Bay have grown used to their reptilian neighbours.

Dr Tom Major says the aesculapian snakes see the nearby houses as a "warm and safe retreat"

"You do get the odd person who is not a fan of them being there... but generally they are well received," he said.

When he conducted the research in 2021, he would help residents remove these snakes when asked.

"If you find one in your attic... personally I would just let it be as you really wouldn't know it was there" adding that the snakes are "very shy".

He added that the people of Colwyn Bay have known that the snakes were there for a long time.

"They know enough about the snakes not to be afraid of them," he said.

"There is nothing for people to worry about these snakes are completely harmless to people and pets."