“I got a bit of a shock at first, because it was only a few inches from my face!” In March, Anne McCabe experienced an unexpected encounter right outside her window in the United Kingdom. Her cat, Drilbur, was fixated on something on the pavement, prompting McCabe to investigate.
To her surprise, Drilbur had stumbled upon a slow worm—a legless lizard resembling a snake. Observing the creature’s sizable 9-inch length and its lethargic movements, McCabe grew concerned for its well-being. Taking swift action, she provided comfort by placing the slow worm in a cloth-lined cardboard box and positioning it in a sunlit room to aid its recovery.
Upon returning to check on her unexpected guest, McCabe was puzzled to find the slow worm missing. After an exhaustive search, she was astonished to discover the reptile nestled within her diorama of a magician’s shop.
“It was very amusing to see the slow worm peering out at me,” McCabe recalled. “I got quite a start because it was unexpectedly close to my face!”
In the end, the slow worm found both warmth and shelter in an unlikely place, leaving McCabe with a memorable tale of a close encounter with a curious reptile.
Delighted to witness the slow worm’s recovery, McCabe made sure to return him to his natural habitat.
“[I] carefully took the diorama outside, to the sunny spot by the shed, and the slow worm slithered out and under the shed,” McCabe recounted.
Reflecting on the experience, McCabe expressed her happiness at being able to assist the slow worm in warming up, despite the initial surprise he gave her.
“We’re definitely a family of animal lovers,” McCabe shared. “[We] enjoy showing and teaching our son to care and respect … nature and animals.”