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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:
ScottBakula · 18/06/2023 02:41

cakeorwine · 17/06/2023 19:09

I've seen people walking ferrets here.

Ummmmm if you were in the north west between 8 & 12 years ago it may of been me you saw.

I would be very tempted to take a snake for a slither around a garden or very quiet space, but a park with kids and dogs ? No probably not

wombat1a · 18/06/2023 02:57

Honestly I'd love it we had him near us. When DS and DD were smaller it would have been brilliant for them as a learning experience with other animals.

These are the sort of things I think UK used to be great at, having different people (someone times eccentric) around for everyone to enjoy being in community with. For those with snake phobias imagine how great something like this would be for getting over it.

fuckip · 18/06/2023 06:28

I'm terrified of dogs and hate the way they've taken over every public space around here - I'd take snakes over them any day.

Willmafrockfit · 18/06/2023 06:38

arent they dangerous for pregnant women?

BittenontheBum · 18/06/2023 07:15

I like snakes. What I wouldn’t like is being asked to trust strangers in public spaces with large free roaming reptiles (insert animal of your choice here)
I am a dog lover, but some people in public places are very surprised that that is on MY terms 😱 and not dictated by their excitable/aggressive/jumping dog.
It's all about responsibility isn't it?

Huga · 18/06/2023 07:17

I used to take my 5ft snake out for walks on sunny days. Not on the floor but round my neck. He seemed to enjoy the sun and the walk and I admit I did find people's reactions funny!

savethatkitty · 18/06/2023 07:18

I remember years ago someone brought his pet snake to the drive in picture theatre. Why not the park, I suppose

JMSA · 18/06/2023 07:24

I think this would be a bonkers thing to do, and surely the busy environment would freak the snake out.
Do you have a garden?

blanketblank · 18/06/2023 07:25

Our corn snake is very active in summer, I’d be scared of him escaping in a park.

gogohmm · 18/06/2023 07:48

Most parks only allow domestic animals, snacks come under exotic pets. Our council acted when a lady started bringing her miniature horse (and didn't pick up!)

All animals in parks should be fully trained for recall or harnessed, you can't do that with a snake!

gogohmm · 18/06/2023 07:57

There was an iguana at the pub the other day though? Was sitting by the water

AnchorWHAT · 18/06/2023 08:00

Last summer a bloke brought his two massive snakes to the pub! One round his neck one round his arm, got a lot of attention, he kept lifting one to other peoples necks for selfies…. My snake phobic husband had to hide round the corner until he had gone 🙄

Twinklegolden · 18/06/2023 08:31

CoconutDrunk · 18/06/2023 00:17

surely this isn’t real 😂😂😂

TW: picture of snake

This is the guy from the article, taken by me a few weeks ago. Such attention seeking behaviour by him

to take my snake to sunbathe in the local park?
PinkButtercups · 18/06/2023 08:52

wombat1a · 18/06/2023 02:57

Honestly I'd love it we had him near us. When DS and DD were smaller it would have been brilliant for them as a learning experience with other animals.

These are the sort of things I think UK used to be great at, having different people (someone times eccentric) around for everyone to enjoy being in community with. For those with snake phobias imagine how great something like this would be for getting over it.

Yeah, no.

That's not how phobias work.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 18/06/2023 09:47

Lellochip · 17/06/2023 22:27

I mean, you can I guess?... I'd be very surprised if they listen! 😄

You'd have to teach them Morse Code and do it through thumping on the ground.

--. . - / -... .- -.-. -,- / .... . .-. . / ... .. -..

... - - .. / . .- - .. -. . / - .... .- - / -.-. .... .. .-.. -.. .. / ... .. -.. .. / -. - ..- / .... .- ...- . / .. -.-. . / .- - / .... - .

... - .

... - .

ScottBakula · 18/06/2023 11:06

I wonder if you could make something like a horse's bridal for them , so they would have a very thin bit in their mouth and a coller / harness around their neck .

ScottBakula · 18/06/2023 11:09

@NeverDropYourMooncup can you translate that morse code , it would be useful for my friends deaf dog 😃

MedievalMadness · 18/06/2023 11:33

ScottBakula · Today 11:06
I wonder if you could make something like a horse's bridal for them , so they would have a very thin bit in their mouth and a coller / harness around their neck .

Some sort of reverse engineered horses bridal could be a ground breaking moment in the snake lead arena. you are really thinking outside the box here. Impressive.

IBetGordonRamsayDoesntHaveTheseProblems · 18/06/2023 11:33

Willmafrockfit · 18/06/2023 06:38

arent they dangerous for pregnant women?

You're thinking of cats and sheep - toxoplasmosis

NeverDropYourMooncup · 18/06/2023 11:58

ScottBakula · 18/06/2023 11:09

@NeverDropYourMooncup can you translate that morse code , it would be useful for my friends deaf dog 😃

Of course - the dashes played havoc with the formatting

Get back here, Sid

Stop eating that child, Sid, you have mice at home

Sid!

SID!

I've had a deaf cat. The current ones aren't deaf (unless they want to be, like a couple of dogs I've owned) and they respond to the following

Bang bang Up (hand raised, palm sideways facing them) - happens to be Morse ..- , which is 'U'. When the original cat also went blind, the dash was putting my hand onto the floorboards and leaving it there.

Then thud thud thud (three dashes) or bangbangbang is S or O - like the sssss or nO! (Or 'Oy'!)

Middle finger to index finger taptap taptap taptap taptap when I'm waiting for them to decide what I've told them is an acceptable course of action - A A A A (tick tock tick tock, time's running out)

And drumming my nails on the surface they're standing/sitting on - five rolls, four taps, kind of like a drum roll - means 'Come, look, here' - it's also H H H H H

There's also long range arm signals for my old dog and the close range finger movements that mean things like 'Now I've got your attention, GET DOWN from there'. And exaggerated eyebrows, head dips, etc.

I was a very bored child mostly left to entertain myself with the animals.

Hawkins0001 · 19/06/2023 00:48

PinkButtercups · 18/06/2023 08:52

Yeah, no.

That's not how phobias work.

Depends on the treatment method

Offensiveapprently · 19/06/2023 02:45

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 17/06/2023 19:06

Why not?

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

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts do you live in Glastonbury or Hebden Bridge? 😀

ScottBakula · 20/06/2023 12:26

@MedievalMadness >>> takes a small bow and gets pad and pencil out to start designing a snake bridel <<<

ScottBakula · 20/06/2023 12:31

NeverDropYourMooncup · 18/06/2023 11:58

Of course - the dashes played havoc with the formatting

Get back here, Sid

Stop eating that child, Sid, you have mice at home

Sid!

SID!

I've had a deaf cat. The current ones aren't deaf (unless they want to be, like a couple of dogs I've owned) and they respond to the following

Bang bang Up (hand raised, palm sideways facing them) - happens to be Morse ..- , which is 'U'. When the original cat also went blind, the dash was putting my hand onto the floorboards and leaving it there.

Then thud thud thud (three dashes) or bangbangbang is S or O - like the sssss or nO! (Or 'Oy'!)

Middle finger to index finger taptap taptap taptap taptap when I'm waiting for them to decide what I've told them is an acceptable course of action - A A A A (tick tock tick tock, time's running out)

And drumming my nails on the surface they're standing/sitting on - five rolls, four taps, kind of like a drum roll - means 'Come, look, here' - it's also H H H H H

There's also long range arm signals for my old dog and the close range finger movements that mean things like 'Now I've got your attention, GET DOWN from there'. And exaggerated eyebrows, head dips, etc.

I was a very bored child mostly left to entertain myself with the animals.

I am going to pass this on to my friend ! He already uses some hand signals and when it's dawn / dusk a very bright torch but I am sure more tips would be gratefully received, 😀

ICriedAllTheWayToTheChipShop · 20/06/2023 12:56

CamelCaseLetter · 17/06/2023 21:09

And the human would need to be warmed up to exactly the right temperature, be the right colour and shape, be dangled about in the correct way, and even then might get refused. Royals are notoriously fussy eaters.

Mine opens his mouth and waits for me to put the dead rat in there. I have tried in vain to get him to strike at his prey but he's just hopeless. There's absolutely no chance he'd survive on his own.

I do take my snakes outside, but only into my own yard, never in public. It's not the snakes I don't trust, it's other people. Too much risk of my lovely little boy being trodden on or attacked by a dog!