Rat snake caught in police officer's residence

A nearly seven-foot-long rat snake was on Thursday rescued from the official residence of Senior Superintendent of Police Amit Pathak here.

The reptile was kept under observation for some time after which it was released back in its natural habitat, the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit said.

The staff on duty was surprised to spot the snake wandering in the garden at the house at Baluganj area.

Rat snakes (Ptyas mucosa), also known as the Oriental rat snake, are a highly adaptable species and are commonly found in urban areas. They often wander into the human habitation due to depletion of natural prey base.

However, due to their resemblance to cobras, the species is often mistaken for the highly venomous snake and is met with hostility and fear.

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder of Wildlife SOS, said: "Rat snakes are a non-venomous snake species that primarily feed on rodents, toads, small birds, lizards and eggs.

"Often, people tend to panic on spotting a snake as not everyone can distinguish the venomous ones from non-venomous ones."

--IANS

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