A woman has found a California Kingsnake slithering around in her bed at her home in Dublin.

The woman bundled the animal - native to the west coast of the United States - into a blanket and took it to nearby Kevin Street Garda station.

The snake has since been rehomed at Shauna's Pet Shop on Capel Street, and the hunt is on for his original owners.

Shauna Kilduff, owner of Shauna's Pet Shop in Dublin, told Moncrieff they were contacted by Gardaí.

"The lady didn't know what to do so she wrapped him in up in the sheets and duvet she found him in and brought him into Kevin Street Garda station," she said.

"We received a call, then, from the Garda station for assistance and he was transported to our store.

"We are in the process of looking after him."

Ms Kilduff said these snakes are not dangerous.

"[The snakes are] non-venomous; they used to be a very popular species of pet snake in Ireland," she said.

"Actually very friendly, easy enough to domesticate and they don't pose any threat whatsoever," she added.

The shop also suggested it would be wise for people to "shake out [their] bedsheets" before heading to bed. 

Breeding of the species has been banned in the European Union since August 2022.

The snakes were accidentally released on the Canary Islands in the early 1990s, which killed off populations of lizards, birds and mammals.

Anyone looking to claim the animal will have to show proof of ownership. 

The Department of Agriculture has been notified.

California Kingsnakes are not venomous or usually aggressive - but can bite if provoked.

Main image: California Kingsnake. Picture by: Alamy.com