An Ornate cat-eyed snake, native to Ecuador, was discovered at a Market Basket in Manchester and has been safely rehomed.
A routine grocery store shipment in New Hampshire took an unexpected turn when employees at a Market Basket in Manchester uncovered a surprise guest nestled among their bananas—a live snake.
The discovery, made last Saturday, led to a call to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division, which later confirmed that the reptilian stowaway was an Ornate cat-eyed snake, a mildly venomous species native to Ecuador.
Lt. Adam Cheney of NH Fish and Game admitted that while his team is accustomed to handling domestic reptiles, this particular encounter was a rare one.
“We’re lucky that one of the workers at Market Basket was very familiar with reptiles,” Cheney said.
At approximately 1.5 feet long, the unexpected traveler startled employees but was ultimately unharmed. The snake has since been rehomed with Rainforest Reptile Shows Inc., an organization specializing in exotic animal care and education.
Mack Ralbovsky, the vice president of Rainforest Reptile Shows, assured the public that the snake will remain in their care permanently.
“This new hitchhiker friend will stay with Rainforest Reptile Shows and RRS Oasis for the remainder of its life,” Ralbovsky said. “However, it is a venomous species, so we take extreme precautions when bringing them out for outreach events.”
Despite the dramatic nature of the discovery, Ralbovsky emphasized that consumers have little reason for concern.
“Snakes in shipments are relatively uncommon and not something consumers need to worry about,” he explained. “Shipments from tropical regions sometimes carry small hitchhikers, but they are usually lizards, frogs, or invertebrates.”
To keep the public engaged, Rainforest Reptile Shows plans to post a video on its Facebook and YouTube accounts, allowing viewers to vote on a name for their newest reptilian resident.
In a statement on Facebook, the organization thanked officials for ensuring a smooth transition for the snake.
“The Cat-eyed Snake that arrived today is a specialized species from Panama, Ecuador, and Colombia that primarily feeds on amphibians and lizards,” they wrote. “As a nocturnal species, its care requires extra expertise and attention.”
The unexpected guest may have startled a few shoppers, but thanks to quick-thinking employees and wildlife experts, the banana-loving hitchhiker now has a safe and permanent home.