Snake in drain sheds its skin, eludes city crews

A snake lodged in an old pipe in under a Victoria street has shed its skin, snacked on two dead mice and retreated back into its lair.

Victoria city clerk Chris Coates said now that the snake has finished shedding its skin, one to two metres in length, it’s hoped the animal will resume a regular, more active feeding and resting cycle.

“So we’ll be able to step up our efforts to capture it,” Coates said. “Over the next couple of days, we’ll see what our options are.”

The snake, believed to be a harmless corn snake, has been largely inactive since it was discovered last week in a storm drain underneath the junction of Quadra Street and Balmoral Road.

City workers were looking for plugs or breaks in a section of pipe when they spotted the animal via video camera.

Attempts to lure the snake out of the pipe last week failed, and the city has been waiting for the snake to make its move.

Coates said he has heard news reports of people coming forward to say the snake is theirs. In any event, he said, the city wants to see the creature granted a safe home after it is recaptured.