Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to be annoyed neighbours snake was found in our garden?

205 replies

Stardust160 · 29/05/2016 18:03

This afternoon we were greeted with this visitor (pictured) in the garden. Turns out when we asked next door it was there and has been missing for 2 and half weeks and had last see it going under there decking. I'm frightened of snakes, we also have a baby ,a toddler and a 7 year old.

Am i unreasonable that they should of informed us it was lost and that they would let a snake (regardless if it's a pet snake) roam freely outside and end up in someone else's garden. The thought of my toddler picking it up not realising it was real or it going near the baby or 7 year makes my stomach turn.

Aibu to be annoyed neighbours snake was found in our garden?
OP posts:
BlueberrySky · 29/05/2016 18:45

I have a corn snake, looks just like the one in the picture. It she had escaped I would have told next door, just so we could increase our chances of getting her back.

They are harmless though and very sweet natured.

ohtheholidays · 29/05/2016 18:48

I love snakes but YANBU OP they were bloody idiots to not have said anything to they're neighbours.They don't sound like great owners neither to be honest and if they did have the snake outside on purpose then they're bloody even bigger idiots!

BalloonSlayer · 29/05/2016 18:52

I am not scared of snakes at all, and have a great photo of myself with a small snake in my (80s perm) hair - I look like Medusa! - to prove it.

However neither do I know anything about snakes. I would have been highly disturbed to find one in my garden especially if my DCs were very small. Because I would have no idea what it was or whether it was harmless or not. (I know someone who was bitten by an adder recently, I think they are green but don't have a scooby, I'd have seen that one and roared "Adder!" regardless.)

I would have shat myself if I had found one in the bloody bath.

So it's a YANBU from me!

eyebrowsonfleek · 29/05/2016 18:55

Everyone's such an expert on everything here. Hmm

Even though it's not poisonous, it would be neighbourly to get a head's up. (I'm no fan of snakes either but would be shitting myself about the possibility of the snake making a nest in my garden and laying eggs or something. Confused)

Are snakes a threat to dogs and cats?

Egosumquisum · 29/05/2016 18:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsSpecter · 29/05/2016 18:56

Venomous. Not poisonous. Two different things. Very few snakes are actually poisonous.

HelenaDove · 29/05/2016 19:00

YY Ego Totally agree.

Egosumquisum · 29/05/2016 19:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Micah · 29/05/2016 19:02

Venomous. Not poisonous. Two different things. Very few snakes are actually poisonous.

Yy- If it were poisonous you'd have to bite the snake :)

notonyurjellybellynelly · 29/05/2016 19:03

I could cope with any spider in the world and not run away in terror. In fact I used to sit at night and watch huge camel spiders coming over my garden wall to have a wee nosey around the garden - I think it was the pool they were interested in.

But snakes???? No way. I would pass out. And Im glad that in all the years Ive lived in a country with some of the worlds worst snakes Ive only ever seen one in 40 years.

I did once manage to go through the snake house in Paris with my granddaughter but I kept firmly to the middle of the aisle and my eyes were straight ahead at all times.

sykadelic · 29/05/2016 19:50

Did they come and get it? Oh they would have been thrilled that you found it!

You'll find many people won't tell people their snake is missing because people would freak out worrying it'll eat them in their sleep or some such nonsense.

We have 3 snakes. All very secure except I did just see the baby climbing along the top of the tank looking for a weakness (though she failed of course). Snakes are tricky little buggers. None of ours are venomous, none have fangs (just sharp teeth) and none are constrictors (some towns prohibit them around where I live).

As you asked, YABU to be annoyed it was found in your garden. It's not like they could have set up a barrier to stop the snake moving into your yard. It got loose and it's not deadly.

sykadelic · 29/05/2016 19:55

it would be neighbourly to get a head's up

Why? What would it have changed except to make the OP crazy paranoid about going into her backyard... and for a crazy amount of time should the snake never end up being found OR not end up in her backyard.

Also, snakes can fit practically anywhere, so really the OP's neighbour should have taken out an ad in local paper because it could have ended up ANYWHERE, not just next door.

Egosumquisum · 29/05/2016 19:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Stardust160 · 29/05/2016 19:59

I think a heads up so that I was aware when we were given us having small children. My DH handed back to them as they were in there garden at the time.

OP posts:
derxa · 29/05/2016 20:00

I bloody hate snakes. YANBU

Original poster
Stardust160 · 29/05/2016 20:01

Bloody predicted text.

" just a heads ups given we have small children in the house"

my 7 year old would of been excited as he loves snakes but the other two a toddler and a newborn not so much (my 7 year old missed out on the excitement as he's currently away with his DF)

OP posts:
HelenaDove · 29/05/2016 20:01

sykadelic its not ppl thinking that it will eat them in their sleep. Its that the snake will go to ground and hide and there are lots of places in the home they can do that. Why should the non snake owner next door have to face the possibility of having to turn their home upside down to look for it damaging property or the RSPCA (who did make noises about coming out the next day to dig up the kitchen floor , a suggestion which went down really well with the HA) white goods and wardrobes being moved around to look for it risking damage to said items

If it was any other animal getting into someone elses property there would be screams of personal responsibility. Why do reptile owners get a free pass!!

derxa · 29/05/2016 20:02

Also I don't think they make suitable pets. Why do people keep them?
How did it get out?

jusdepamplemousse · 29/05/2016 20:04

YANBU - I would absolutely shit myself and it's fairly bloody normal to be scared of snakes, no? I mean honestly who expects to saunter across one in the garden?!

Why is everyone being all weird?! And saying it's no big deal?!!!! Confused

thisisnotausername · 29/05/2016 20:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

derxa · 29/05/2016 20:06

At my school there was an adder near the dinner hall. The dinner lady cornered it. She's a braver woman than me

Griphook · 29/05/2016 20:12

I'd feel the same as you op, I'd be quite cross they hadn't bothered to tell you what

Original poster
Stardust160 · 29/05/2016 20:13

Derxa they let it out Hmm God knows why you would let a snake out in your garden. I'm glad that people understand phobias and that because someone has a snake does mean I want to be greeted by one or would know if it was poisonous or not. Afew PPs were quite rude with sarcastic comments at the beginning but glad to see that quite afew people feel the same and I'm not being silly

OP posts:
Liara · 29/05/2016 20:15

We had a nearly 5 foot snake in our garden yesterday. 6yo ds2's reaction was to call everyone enthusiastically so we could all come out and admire it. It was beautiful.

You really should teach your children appropriate behaviour when encountering a wild animal of any kind, wherever it is. Picking it up is never an appropriate response, and it would serve them right if they got a bite if they did it.