Bernie ensures slippery serpent finds safe custody!
Bernie Phelan pictured outside her home in Cortober where the slippery escapee was found. Pic: Gerry Faughnan
On December 23rd, Cortober woman Bernie Phelan was petrified when she saw a multi-coloured snake in her backyard.
It rapidly disappeared under a fence beside her back door and despite searches with the help of neighbours, no trace of the snake was found.
Bernie recalls that many people she told were dubious about her scary experience. How could a reptile long banished by St Patrick be roaming free; never mind how could a cold-blooded creature survive the harsh winter and incessant rain?
However, he did manage it, and four months later from Bernie’s first sighting, Slippery Sam as he was christened lately appeared coiled firmly over her Rayburn range.
Neighbours were called in to help and the interloper was held in safe custody by one of them.
The vibrantly coloured reptile was later identified as a very healthy and harmless Milk Snake which presumably was an escapee pet.
How the extreme survivor emerged unscathed after a cold and very wet winter, escaped several neighbourhood cats, or made its way into Bernie’s home remains a mystery.
Bernie said: "I told everyone I saw him; he gave me an awful fright on both sightings. But I’m glad he’s out of my house now and being properly looked after.”
