An escaped pet royal python gave a Kensington woman quite a fright on Monday this week. When she woke up in the morning, there it was, curled up next to her in the bed. While the snake had obviously made itself extremely comfortable, the woman rushed out of her room and immediately contacted the RSPCA, after shutting the door to barricade the wily snake in the bedroom.

It seems the snake is a real escape artist, as when an RSPCA representative quickly arrived at her flat, the python was nowhere to be seen. It seemed it had escaped yet again.

Python on the loose in Kensington

After the unnamed woman called the RSPCA, Jill Sanders – one of their animal collection officers – soon arrived at her flat. However, Sanders could find no trace of the python. She said the poor woman must have received the “fright of her life,” finding the python curled up in her bed. She confirmed the woman and her partner had jumped out of the bed, hurrying out of the room to close the door to barricade the snake in. However, Sanders added she could find no sign of the snake.

Sanders left her contact information with the woman, telling her to contact her if the python should raise its wily head again.

Python reappears in the Kensington flat

Sanders was called back to the flat on Tuesday evening, where she finally caught the python. She has no idea how the python got into the flat but believes the snake must have escaped from its owner’s home close by.

RSPCA advises snake owners on how to prevent escapes

According to Sanders, the RSPCA tends to collect more snakes during the summer months, as the slithery escape artists have more energy during the warmer weather.

She said they are very good at escaping and can get out of the smallest hole.

As reported by the Evening Standard, Sanders went on to say that they recommend that owners invest in suitable enclosures for their particular species of snake. She added that they should ensure that enclosure is secure and if necessary locked when they are away from home.

Sanders said that reptiles – and particularly snakes – are “extremely good escape artists” that will take any opportunity to get out via a loose-fitting lid or enclosure door.

The BBC reports that royal pythons originate from West Africa. While the pet snake in this story was only three feet in length, they can grow over four feet in length. Despite the fact that it is scary to come across one of the snakes, especially in one’s bed, the breed is known to be very docile and will curl up into a ball if it feels threatened. Rather horribly, their diet includes mice and rats.