Snake hitches 5,300-mile ride on a pineapple sold at grocery store

Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Animal rescuers were summoned to a Scotland home to capture a snake that hitched a 5,300-mile ride from Costa Rica on a pineapple.

The Scottish SPCA said animal rescue officers responded Tuesday to a home in Edinburgh's Tryst Park after a resident contacted them about a snake found hiding in the leaves of a pineapple they had just purchased from the local Aldi store.

"It's not every day that we get called out to attend to snakes found in peculiar places," Animal Rescue Officer Catherine Atterton said. "I know not long ago there was a wee lizard found on a head of broccoli so I was quite excited to see what had stowed away on this pineapple."

The rescuers were unable to identify the snake, which they turned over to some local animal experts.

"We named him Ricky, as he's come all the way from Costa Rica. As yet he's not been identified but he's in a good condition and is now being cared for by experts at Butterfly World in Edinburgh," Atterton said. "We're glad we were called out, as without proper care Ricky wouldn't survive our climate. Now he'll be able to recuperate from his adventures!"