Motion sensor to be used to detect L’Ancresse snake

The large reptile was spotted on the southern end of the common at the end of June by a dog walker.

Since then the GSPCA have been trying to track down the creature. Manager Steve Byrne said based on the description it was believed the snake was a python. But finding it was not easy.

‘We’ve been up there every day, scouting the area, but there has been no further sightings,’ he said.

‘The problem is that if it’s the species we think it is, then they don’t come out very often, as they live in a hole and only come out once every few days for food, so it is like searching for a needle in a haystack. There are a number of rabbit holes and the gorse is quite dense. So we have not been able to spot anything.’

He asked that if anyone saw anything then they should take a photograph or video, as this would help identify the snake.

‘It is unlikely it will move very far as the food resources are very high at this time of year,’ Mr Byrne said.

This sort of snake could be living on animals such as rabbits, ferrets or ducklings.

‘At this time of year, in this sort of weather, they can do quite well,’ Mr Byrne.

‘They can also survive for three months with no food or water, which makes it really difficult to find and catch them.’

Mr Byrne said they were planning to put one of the charity’s wildlife cameras out, which would be activated by movement, to see if they could get any images of the animal.

If anyone does spot the snake, they should contact the GSPCA.