Snakes spotted in Graves Park and a 'lobster' in Crookes Valley Park - Sheffield's rare and exotic sightings from the animal kingdom

This week, snakes were found slithering the grass at the popular Graves Park in Sheffield.

This has raised concerns for the well-being of exotic animals which can not survive in the cold weather. There are fears that the animals have been dumped in the park as the can no longer take care of them, leading to a danger to their well-being.

It wasn’t the first time snakes and other exotic animals have been spotted in and around the city – here are some of the other occasions rare animals have been found in the steel city:

Snake on the loose – 2018:

In the summer of 2018, a Sheffield resident took to Facebook to warn that a snake was ‘on the loose’ on Hollythorpe Road.

The RSPCA, when called, suggested it to be a corn snake, a North American species of snake which is not known to bite often, and if they do, it rarely ever causes pain.

On this occasion, the corn snake managed to slither off before any residents or the RSPCA could capture it and take it into care.

‘Looks like a lobster’ – 2020:

In October 2020, a creature was discovered swimming in the Crookes Valley lake.

Despite claims the creature looked like a lobster, the lake was freshwater meaning it could not have been a lobster and was most likely a crayfish.

There is only one type of crayfish native to the UK is the white-clawed crayfish, but these have been on decline since the 1970s.

Giant African Snails – 2022:

In March of this year, the RSPCA had to issue exotic pet ownership advice after 8 giant African snails were found dumped in a bush at Firth Park.

Considered to be ‘invasive species’ in other nations, the RSPCA took in the snails and sent them to an exotic animal centre to be taken care of. They were said to be ‘lucky’ to be alive as they require a humid living environment.

These giant African land snails can often grow to shell sizes of 18cm by 9cm, with some known to reach 30cm by 15cm. The snails found in Sheffield were smaller examples, with their shells being up to 5cm wide.

Lizard next to A57 – 2022:

Just last month, a bearded dragon lizard was found next to the A57 in Sheffield.

Suspicion rose that abandonment of exotic animals was on the rise due to the cost-of-living crisis which was forcing owners to leave their pets behind if they could not afford to keep them.

Bearded dragons are one of the most expensive reptiles to look after, due to them needing UV lights, thermostats and heaters.

‘Could only describe as a puma’ – 2018

In 2018, a woman in Bolsterstone, a village 8 miles from Sheffield, said she was shocked after seeing a big cat, which she ‘could only describe as a puma’.

It was never found what the creature was that the woman saw that day, however, she described the animal as a ‘huge beast by feline standards and was about two feet tall on all four legs’.