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UK Gardener Frees Gopher Snake Trapped in Bird Netting, Vows to Rethink Garden Defenses

The case underscores the danger garden netting poses to wildlife, including non-native snakes sold as pets in Britain.

Overview

  • Video posted to Reddit shows the gardener carefully cutting away mesh with scissors to release the snake from a raised bed.
  • The snake was identified in reports as a gopher snake, a species not native to the UK but available from reptile retailers and breeders.
  • After the rescue, the gardener said he would reconsider using bird netting as a deterrent around his beds.
  • The RSPCA advises that animals freed from constrictive materials should be checked by professionals because injuries can emerge later.
  • Reddit users shared similar encounters, including one fatality, and offered rescue tips such as using curved, blunt-ended pruning shears.