A man got the fright of his life after he discovered a massive BOA constrictor slithering around his garden.
The worried man alerted the RSPCA who came to collect the deadly 4ft reptile from his home in Yeovil, Somerset.
Staff from nearby Lufton College’s exotics department also came and are now caring for it.
Animal Welfare Officer at the RSPCA Alison Sparkes said: “It’s hard to know for how this snake came to be in the undergrowth but I think the caller got a bit of a surprise.
“It’s not every day you stumble upon a 4ft snake in the bushes. The snake may have escaped from a vivarium or may have been abandoned.
“The RSPCA is seeing a growing number of exotic animals – including snakes – being abandoned because they are too much of a commitment for some people.
“Many people do not realise what they are taking on when they buy these pets so we are urging prospective buyers to do their research before getting one.”
She urged anyone who thinks they may know who the snake belongs to to get in touch with the charity.
Although they do not have fangs or venom, boa constrictors can be deadly, using constriction to suffocate their prey.
Native to parts of North, Central, South America and parts of the Caribbean, they can reach lengths of between 3-13ft (0.91-3.96 m).
