A runaway pet snake that vanished from its home nearly two months ago has finally been found — to the shock of neighbors who spotted it slithering down a street in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.
The red-tailed boa, originally named Zeus, earned the new nickname Houdini from his owner, Craig Wadham, after his elaborate escape. Somehow, the snake managed to cross two rooms, climb a floating staircase and scale furniture before slipping out of an upstairs window on 21 July.
Wadham and his family had given up hope of ever seeing him again. “Most snakes that go missing are never found,” he said. “So when we got him back, we were hyped — properly elated.”
The surprise reunion came when a neighbor, Laura Jolly Yan, was alerted to a commotion outside her home. “Someone knocked on my door and asked, ‘Is that your snake?’ I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “It was right in the middle of the road, and people were blocking traffic to make sure no cars hit it. Everyone was so excited.”
Zeus was safely captured using a pillowcase and a box before being taken to an animal specialist, who confirmed he was in good health despite his time outdoors. Ali Lawes, manager of the pet shop Animaltastic, said: “He had a few thorns from going through bushes, but otherwise he was in great condition. You could tell he’d been well looked after.”
Wadham suspects the snake survived by drinking from puddles and dew. Snakes can go months without food, but they need regular access to water.
Interestingly, eight different people claimed the boa as theirs after news of the discovery spread, but Wadham was the only one able to provide proof through photos and details of his care.
“They’re beautiful snakes and can be valuable, so we’re strict about who they go home with,” Lawes explained.
Now safely back with his mate, Gaia, Zeus — or Houdini — has proven just how resourceful a snake can be.