Man is Horrified to Find a Ladder Snake Inside a Bag of Broccoli He Purchased From

this isolated incident and have apologized to Mr. Linton that our usual high standards were not met. an Aldi spokesperson said.
Image Credit Donovan Linton
What Kind of Snake Was It?
According to Lintons son Donovan 41 a specialist from the Dudley Zoo said the creature was a young ladder snake. Although they look scary and can deliver a nasty bite they are not venomous. They are commonly found around Europe including Spain Portugal and parts of Italy and France. They like temperate habitats with a lot of low shade such as hedges forests vineyards rodent burrows hollow trees orchards and boulders. Ladder snakes tend to be solitary aggressive and defensive in nature. They ward off attackers by snapping their sharp fangs and releasing a foul odor. Despite being carnivores they dont go after humans. Instead they feed on rodents like mice and rabbits birds spiders lizards and insects. The broccoliinvading reptile now resides at the Dudley Zoo.
However herpetologist Dr. Steven J. R. Allain identifies it as a viperine water snake which is fortunately less dangerous. Having reviewed the actual photo of the snake in the broccoli I am not sure the zoo identified the species correctly Allain said. To my expert eyes the snake is in fact a viperine water snake Natrix maura which is a harmless fisheating species found throughout southwestern Europe and northern Africa.
He theorizes how it could have slithered its way into a broccoli. Seeing as a large portion of the food grown and imported into the United Kingdom comes from the Mediterranean region it is no surprise to find a species from this area turning up in some vegetables likely grown there. In my opinion the snake was likely moving through the field at the time before being scooped up by agricultural equipment then seeking refuge within the broccoli.
Not as Scary as They Look
Viperine water snakes are dangerous only if youre a fish or a frog. They do not bite humans as a defense mechanism theyd much rather play dead and they are regarded as nonvenomous to humans. Additionally these snakes can go months without food especially in cold temperatures like a fridge which would lower their metabolism. But the snake in question wouldnt have liked the switch from the Mediterranean warmth to a chilly crisper drawer.
But whether the reptile was a viperine water snake or a ladder snake Allain hopes to educate the public about this species.
People may become less afraid if they knew more about these delicate and misunderstood creatures.