A resident in southern Moscow was frightened inside his home when a snake unexpectedly slithered into his bathroom while he was taking a shower.
The reptile crept into the southern Moscow apartment through a ventilation box and spent several minutes inside the bathroom before crawling back out through the exact same opening.
The situation in the Russian capital was reported by Telegram channel Mash, which identified the uninvited guest as a corn snake, also referred to as a red rat snake. Reptiles of this species are widely kept in private homes due to their peaceful character and easy care.
Corn snakes are non-venomous constrictor snakes native to North America that are among the most popular exotic pets kept in households globally. Characterised by their calm temperament and distinctive patterns, they grow to moderate lengths and are generally docile around humans. Because they are skilled climbers and agile crawlers, domestic corn snakes are known to squeeze through tight gaps and ductwork if their enclosures are not fully secured.
Shared ventilation boxes and duct shafts are common structural features throughout high-rise apartment complexes in Moscow, the capital of Russia. These ventilation systems run vertically through multi-family buildings to circulate air through bathrooms and kitchens, creating potential passages between neighboring flats when vent grilles are unsealed.
Previous snake incident in Vladivostok
The Moscow encounter comes after a similar incident previously reported in Vladivostok, a major port city located in the Russian Far East. In that case, a snake made its way into a seventh-floor residential flat and became trapped inside the bathroom. Local rescuers were called to the property to safely free the animal from the room.
Local media and Russian social messaging channels like Mash regularly document unusual encounters involving escaped household animals in urban residential blocks, where exotic pets can navigate shared plumbing and air ducts.
