Govind Tekale
Staff at a Heron Foods supermarket in Maryport, Cumbria made an unusual discovery when a baby snake was found curled up in the bread aisle.
The snake — a young corn snake — was found among the loaves and quickly taken to a veterinary practice for a check-up. After that, it was transferred to a local animal rescue organisation called Pet Encounter, where it was given the name Crumbs.
A corn snake is a non-venomous species native to North America. They’re one of the most popular pet reptiles in the UK because they’re relatively docile and manageable in size. As adults, they typically reach between three and five feet in length.
Whether Crumbs was deliberately abandoned or simply escaped from a nearby home is not known. The origin of the snake was never established.
Pet Encounter handler Ben Nicholson said the organisation has taken in 21 snakes so far in 2026, compared with 14 across all of 2025. Nicholson linked this increase partly to the cost of living — specifically, the expense of maintaining the equipment that reptiles need, such as heating systems to keep their enclosures at the right temperature. Corn snakes and other reptiles are cold-blooded, meaning they cannot regulate their own body temperature. Heating equipment costs money to run, and rising energy bills have made that harder for some owners.
That explanation is Pet Encounter’s assessment of a trend they’re observing locally. It’s not a nationally confirmed statistical finding about why people are surrendering reptiles across the UK.
If you ever find a snake in a public place, the right move is to remain calm, keep others away from the animal, and contact a local animal rescue service or the RSPCA. Do not attempt to handle it if you’re not trained.
Crumbs is now being cared for at Pet Encounter.
