Snake slithers through St. Thomas, Ont. apartment as resident acts to help
It was a surprising and slithering discovery for a St. Thomas woman.
On a cold and windy day last week, Tiffany Byers discovered a five-foot snake in her apartment building.
“As I’m leaving, I look down the stairs, and there’s a snake crawling up the stairs,” she recalled.
Startled, she filmed the snake for her sister, who arrived soon after to help Tiffany get it contained, warm and safe.
The pair then asked around, but no tenants said they were missing a snake. That left a mystery.
“I was just curious how it got into the building? What was it doing there? If it was OK?” she said.
Tiffany determined the snake was not venomous before hitting another hurdle.
Tiffany Byers stands at the bottom of a staircase inside her St. Thomas, Ont. apartment building on April 22, 2024 where a snake, affectionately know as Linguini, was discovered. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
“The problem was, I just really didn’t know who to call,” she explained.
St. Thomas animal agencies and the city couldn’t help, so she called the new Reptilia zoo in London.
They arrived within the hour to take the snake into their care.
It will remain in quarantine at the facility for two months before it is added to the corn snake display or utilized for education.
Its discovery is not unique, according to Reptilia's facility manager Darryl Nagy.
“Well over 85 per cent of the animals in Reptilia, from all locations, are donations surrenders or confiscations from law enforcement,” he explained.
Linguini the snake, who was found in a St. Thomas, Ont. apartment building in April 2024, is seen moments after being taken into care by Reptilla officials in London, Ont. Staff are treating are now testing the animal for any disease and offering care until it can join other corn snakes.(Source: Reptillia)
Nagy said snakes and reptiles can escape their enclosures if pet owners are not responsible. He also suggests that sometimes, the creatures are deliberately let loose.
Zookeeper Coty Holman said it is tragic, as well cared for corn snakes can be suitable pets.
“If you’re well equipped and willing to do the knowledge and care required these [corn snakes] can be a fantastic pet species," he said.
As for the snake found in St. Thomas, Reptilla is thinking of naming him Ash or Charcoal as he doesn’t match the typical red body of his counterparts.
But Tiffany is hopeful the zoo will choose the name she gave the snake after it reminded her and her sister of a type of noodle.
“We’re all calling it Linguini,” she said.
Zookeeper Coty Holman displays a corn snake that is part of a display at Reptillia in London, Ont. on April 22, 2024. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Pastrnak scores winner, Bruins down Leafs 2-1 in overtime in Game 7
Sheldon Keefe told his players hockey history would remember them one way or another.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
What a judge's gag order on Trump means in his hush money case
A gag order bars Trump from commenting publicly on witnesses, jurors and some others connected to the matter. The New York judge already has found that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, repeatedly violated the order, fined him US$9,000 and warning that jail could follow if he doesn't comply.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc says
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Bombarded with spam texts? Stats show the problem is getting worse in Canada
In particular, messages that involve phishing — an attack where a scammer tries to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or sharing sensitive information — are on the rise.
The American paradox of protest: Celebrated and condemned, welcomed and muzzled
Americans cherish the right to assemble, to speak out, to petition for the redress of grievances. It's enshrined in the first of the constitutional amendments. They laud social actions of the past and recognize the advances toward equality that previous generations made, often at risk of life and limb. But those same activities can produce anger and outright opposition when life's routines are interrupted, and wariness that those speaking out are outsiders looking to sow chaos and influence impressionable minds.
King Charles III’s openness about cancer has helped him connect with people in year after coronation
King Charles III's decision to be open about his cancer diagnosis has helped the new monarch connect with the people of Britain and strengthened the monarchy in the year since his dazzling coronation at Westminster Abbey.