Tourist Find Snake in Dish Washer in Scottish Cottage
TOURISTS staying at a Scots holiday cottage got a shock when they opened a dishwasher - to find a snake lurking inside.
The visitors made the discovery when they went to load dishes in the machine in the house in Aberfeldy in Perthshire - only to find the Californian Kingsnake curled around the pipes.
They immediately called in Scottish SPCA officers, who collected the slithery surprise, nicknamed Ali.
The striped snake is now being cared for at the charity's Balerno rehoming centre.
Kenny Sharp, manager of the centre, said that it was in good health and may be an escaped pet.
He added: "The dishwasher wasn't on when they found the snake.
"They were about to load it up when they found the reptile curled round the pipes inside.
"It is more than likely that it has gone in there because it is hot. Snakes like the heat and will always try to find somewhere to keep warm.
"It looks as though it belongs to somebody as it was very well looked after and in a very good condition.
"Either it had lived off the local mouse population or had only recently escaped."
The California Kingsnake is found wild in southern America and Mexico.
They are not harmful to people and like to eat mice, lizards, frogs, birds and even other snakes.
Ali will be held at the Balerno centre for a week before finding it a new home.
The Daily Record: 27th March 2009
