DAILY POST (Conwy, UK) 22 June 06 Hunting for snake invaders
Dylan Davenport is on the hunt for snakes invading North Wales.
The zoology student is tracking aesculapian rat snakes, which are breeding in the wild after escaping from the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay.
And the 25-year-old of Llangoed, Beaumaris, said information from the project could be used to predict how other invading snake species colonise areas elsewhere in the world.
He will also use the data for a post-graduate degree at Bangor University.
Dylan said: "If anyone has seen one I would be grateful if they could let me know. If they feel confident enough to catch it that would be fantastic. But if anyone is unsure of the identity, don't pick it up!"
Dylan said the aesculapian rat snake can be found throughout Europe but is not native to North Wales.
During the 1960s a female aesculapian snake was brought to Colwyn Bay as an intended exhibit. Unfortunately the snake escaped, and was pregnant. She laid her eggs on the zoo grounds and they hatched. There is now a thriving population at the zoo."
Anyone who can help Dylan is asked to contact him on 07792 002564 or colwyn_snakes@yahoo.co.uk
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