Researchers found the cold-blooded creatures - Europe's largest serpents known as Aesculapian snakes - "thriving" in parts of North Wales, following a couple of "accidental" releases in the UK, much to the alarm of homeowners.
Given their status as a non-native species, we were keen to find out how Aesculapian snakes are surviving in chilly north Wales, further north than anywhere they currently occur naturally.".
Now, scientists claim species usually native to central and southern Europe are creeping into the UK, with their "climate envelope" – the conditions they thrive in – shifting north.
It continues: "While the introduced UK populations appear to be thriving, recent surveys of this snake in the southern parts of its range have discovered a rapid decline, potentially due in part to climate change.
What's more, it turns out that most locals are unfazed by the reptiles, with many unaware of their presence due to the snakes' tendency to hide away discreetly, often in attic corners, reports the Manchester Evening News.
