A corn snake had to be rescued after becoming stuck in a mousetrap as it slid through a London street.
The pink-scaled animal was spotted in a black device, unable to escape, by a passerby.
They called the RSPCA to help free the snake.
Joe White, the animal collection officer who responded to the call, said: “The poor snake could barely move and was well and truly stuck in the mousetrap. The snake had an abrasion where he was stuck but his injuries do not seem to be too severe.
“Sadly, we do see lots of snakes get themselves into slippery situations and it can be a shock to see a snake in the street, especially in the middle of London, so we always appreciate when people report an animal in need to us.”
The snake had an abrasion on it from being trappedRSPCAIt is unknown whether the snake was abandoned or if it escaped from someone’s home before becoming trapped.
After being rescued from the trap on September 8, which had a bold sign on it which read “warning hands pinching”, the RSPCA has been unable to find its owner.
It was found in Commercial Road, Poplar, and since been transferred to Essex Wildlife Hospital for treatment.
Should its owners not be located it will be rehomed.
In a statement, the RSPCA detailed the most humane way to legally control mice is deterrence and prevention.
When a problem has already arisen it is possible traps being used correctly may result in less welfare problems than rodenticides.
However, there are questions surrounding how humane these are and, as in this instance, a risk of endangering other types of animal.
Those who see an animal they have concerns for are asked to call the RSPCA's emergency line on 0300 1234 999.
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Details on supporting the RSPCA can be found on its site at www.rspca.org.uk/give.
Last month, a boa constricter was filmed on a street in London eating a pigeon.
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The RSPCA rescued the animal, from Leytonstone High Street, after it was seen devouring the bird.
A statement from the organisation at the time said it believed the pigeon was dead already before being fed to the exotic snake.