Time For Dinner! Snake Found Slithering In Oven

Ready for dinner, pensioner David felt something slithered in the oven, the colour was nothing like the food he was about to eat.
David Atherton went into panic at first when he discovered the black and white banded California king snake hanging at the side of his cooker. The 65-year-old was not taken aback, he immediately pulled the reptile out, put it in a plastic box and alerted police after he watched it fall to the floor and curl up. 

Giving details of the incident Mr Atherton said: “When I pulled down the oven door I saw the snake hanging down from the side and at first I thought it was part of a food packet, but then I realised what it was. There is a small gap between the oven and the fitted cupboards, which must be what it came through. You could not make it up and I must confess it is not something that happens every day.” 

The snake was retrieved the same evening and it has been given a temporary home with a local conservationist. According to snake specialists, the banded California king snakes can grow up to 183cm in length. It is one of the most popular pet reptiles, due to its ease of care, attractive appearance, and ability to be tamed.

Experts said the banded California king snakes can grow up to 6ft in length

California king snakes are opportunistic feeders, feeding on almost any vertebrate they can constrict. Common food items include rodents, other reptiles, birds, and amphibians. All king snakes are non-venomous, but are powerful constrictors and generally kill their prey through suffocation.