Pet Snake Missing for a Year Was Reunited with Its Owner After Being Dropped into a Yard by a Crow

The reptile survived not only the crow attack but the cold winter temperatures outside

A pet snake that had been missing for a year has made it home — and in the most unlikely of ways.

The United Kingdom's Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) received a call earlier this month about a corn snake that was spotted atop a garage roof in a resident's yard in Spennymoor, England, according to the BBC.

RSPCA inspector John Lawson told the outlet the three-foot-long snake had been picked up by a crow, but then dropped when the bird "realized it had bitten off more than it could chew."

As it turned out, the female reptile, named Agnus, was the missing pet of the resident's neighbor. Agnus had not been seen for a year after managing to escape from her home.

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"After I rescued the snake, a resident living nearby came over and was absolutely delighted as it was her missing pet from a year ago called Agnus," Lawson told the BBC.

He added that he was "gobsmacked" the animal managed to survive not only the crow attack, but the cold temperatures outside over the winter.

According to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, snakes are ecothermic, meaning they cannot generate their own body heat, so they rely on their environment to maintain their body temperature.

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After her ordeal, Agnus was evaluated by a veterinarian and treated for a respiratory infection from being outside in the cold for so long.

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"The vet believes Agnus had gone into brumation mode, similar to hibernation, and her body had shut down in order to survive," Lawson told the BBC. "It really is amazing that she survived for so long without heat — and also survived after a crow had decided to try to fly off with her."

According to the outlet, the RSPCA advises snake owners to keep their reptiles in a locked, secure enclosure when unattended, as snakes are "excellent escape artists."

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