Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to take my snake to sunbathe in the local park?

159 replies

cakeorwine · 17/06/2023 18:09

You can take dogs in the park.
So why not a pet snake!

Is it OK to let your snakes sunbathe in the park? - BBC News

(I don't have a snake and am not sure what I would think if I saw a snake in the park)

snake in Barshaw Park

Is it OK to let your snakes sunbathe in the park?

A man who takes his snakes to his local public park sparks a debate about what animals are acceptable in public spaces.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65931360

OP posts:
Frequency · 17/06/2023 18:11

Tbf, there are no laws against taking snakes to the park and it's unlikely to jump on toddlers or steal sarnies from picnics.

Roselilly36 · 17/06/2023 18:20

😂that looks like an adder, they are in the wild, DH’s golf club always had adders basking on the fairways in summer. But yes a pet snake in a public space could well cause a panic, can’t put it on a lead can you!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 17/06/2023 18:40

I'd just think 'Oh, there's a snake' - or in the case of the BBC photo 'Why are they using a photo of a native species to illustrate this - was it the only picture short of a Cobra or 30ft Boa to illustrate a bloke taking a few non venomous pets out for fully supervised basking (and a bit of attention, but still)?'

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 17/06/2023 18:44

I'd rather see snakes than dogs tbh. But how do you stop them slithering away?

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/06/2023 18:45

If you are a terrible snake owner.

Snakes escape. That's their focus. In a park unless the snake is very big, it will bugger off. And then die.

OneLittleFinger · 17/06/2023 18:46

One of mine might be ok, the second would definitely decide she was going to have some fun and I'm not sure about the third, but I wouldn't risk taking any of them. Wouldn't want them becoming dog food.

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/06/2023 18:46

And they shouldn't need it because where you keep them should be enriching and big.

INeedAnotherName · 17/06/2023 18:47

Well...I guess it would be fine if I saw someone doing that in a park but how would they get it there? Can't assume they would have a car and I wouldn't feel comfortable having one stare at me on the bus 😱

Frequency · 17/06/2023 18:47

He must be a very chatty, sociable man. I get annoyed taking my chihuahua out because so many people want to stop me to pet her/ask about her. I think I'd end up throwing my pets at people if they were more exotic than a chihuahua but then I don't much like people.

My kids would have loved this when they were young and would have been straight over to pet the snakes and ask the owner questions.

Leave him be, I say.

cakeorwine · 17/06/2023 18:48

Frequency · 17/06/2023 18:11

Tbf, there are no laws against taking snakes to the park and it's unlikely to jump on toddlers or steal sarnies from picnics.

That's a good point. Maybe the law didn't expect people would take snakes to a park Grin

OP posts:
Luckydog7 · 17/06/2023 18:51

My sister did this. It freaked out the passing dogs and it also got super fast from sunbathing so while we could keep up it did give people a fright. She was only an adult corn so about 6 foot. Not sure about anything larger.

If you find somewhere empty and flat with short grass and no foot traffic I think its fine.

Luckydog7 · 17/06/2023 18:53

I've always suspected my sister of being a massive covert attention seeker though, expect to get judged!!

Favouritefruits · 17/06/2023 18:56

There’s a lady near me who takes her bearded dragon to the park, she’s a bit of a nuisance putting the dragon right in the middle where kids are playing rather than a quiet area.

2bazookas · 17/06/2023 18:59

@Roselilly36 · Today 18:20
😂that looks like an adder, they are in the wild,

It is not an adder and looks nothing like an adder.

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/06/2023 19:00

INeedAnotherName · 17/06/2023 18:47

Well...I guess it would be fine if I saw someone doing that in a park but how would they get it there? Can't assume they would have a car and I wouldn't feel comfortable having one stare at me on the bus 😱

Snakes are very portable. Cloth bag.

EnthENd · 17/06/2023 19:01

If your snake doesn't have perfect recall then don't let it off lead.

MedievalMadness · 17/06/2023 19:02

If it was on a lead or some sort of snake harness otherwise it might slither off or get stood on or freak out people who are petrified of snakes. I’d have no problem if it was a well supervised snake and not roving around.

helpfulperson · 17/06/2023 19:04

Not a problem. Generally they don't move particularly fast and to my knowledge noone has been killed by a snake in the UK in recent years. Dogs on the other hand .......

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 17/06/2023 19:06

Why not?

People around here walk cats, goats, ferrets, llamas and pigs on leads Grin

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/06/2023 19:06

MedievalMadness · 17/06/2023 19:02

If it was on a lead or some sort of snake harness otherwise it might slither off or get stood on or freak out people who are petrified of snakes. I’d have no problem if it was a well supervised snake and not roving around.

You know what shape they are, right?

OddBoots · 17/06/2023 19:07

I have never seen a snake in the park but someone around here takes their tortoise. I'm not sure what argument against it couldn't be applied to dogs off leads (I know some places insist dogs should be on leads but not many parks).

Fallenangelofthenorth · 17/06/2023 19:08

Wouldn't it get eaten by a dog? Or vice versa?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/06/2023 19:09

Fuck me im terrified of snakes!

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/06/2023 19:09

Fallenangelofthenorth · 17/06/2023 19:08

Wouldn't it get eaten by a dog? Or vice versa?

My dog is terrified of snakes. He is from a warm country though!

BashfulClam · 17/06/2023 19:09

Fuck that, I have a serious phobia of anything that wriggles, snakes in particular terrify me.

Swipe left for the next trending thread