2024 marks our 40th year in business, and in the next few posts I’d like to reflect on some of the jobs that have made the past four decades truly special to me.
Serpentine Tales: Adventures in Handling Escaped Snakes
Everyone enjoys a captivating snake story. Over the years, we’ve encountered various situations where snakes either slipped out of their enclosures, were left behind, or found themselves in less-than-ideal locations. One memorable case involved a six-foot Boa constrictor making a break from its terrarium in Forest Hill. The son, the snakes owner was away in Europe, and upon learning about the escape, the snake-averse mother promptly relocated to a hotel. Given the potential danger, this precautionary move was wise. We received the call, thoroughly searched the house, and eventually discovered the snake coiled around a hot water heating register. After securing it back into its enclosure with added weights on the lid, the homeowner was immensely grateful.
Another noteworthy encounter came through an email from a homeowner reporting a snake in her garden shed. While not an uncommon call, the attached picture revealed a sizable snake perched atop a broom in the shed. Surprisingly, the homeowner remained remarkably calm, showing no excitement about harbouring a non-native, large snake. In contrast, I found myself on edge, considering the potential threat of an escaped, possibly venomous snake roaming the neighbourhood and for the safety of my technicians. Fortunately, the snake stayed put until our arrival, and it turned out to be non-poisonous but still a constrictor capable of posing a risk to small pets. Among the various species we handle, snakes are my least favourite, primarily due to the risk of individuals keeping poisonous varieties as pets, which can lead to escapes and potential death with just one bite.
