Dead snake found dumped in box weighed down by stones in Devon

A dead snake has been discovered in a box, weighed down by stones, in a river in Devon.

The shock find was made by a member of the public, who found the body of the orange corn snake in Ottery St Mary on Wednesday 24 October.

The RSPCA are now appealing for any information which could help find out why the reptile was abandoned.

Dumping any non-native animal is illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Animal welfare officer Alison Sparkes said: “It’s an orange corn snake of around three-feet long, found in a Vodafone router box."

“We would like to hear from anyone who can shed any light on what happened or how this snake came to be dumped in such a terrible state.

“Reptiles appear to have increased in popularity as pets and the number of related incidents dealt with by the RSPCA has risen in recent years.

“We are finding that many people are unaware of how much of a commitment these animals are when they take them on."