Finnish rescue services search for viper in Kokkola kitchen without success

Rescue crews in Kokkola spent Saturday searching for a viper that had slithered into a detached house kitchen but failed to locate the snake, public broadcaster Yle reports.

The homeowners had been unable to remove the viper themselves, prompting the call for assistance. Firefighters checked behind appliances including the refrigerator and stove but found no trace of the animal. Authorities suspect the snake may have either returned outdoors or moved deeper into the building’s structure.

A similar incident occurred Friday in Asikkala, where rescue services were also summoned to handle a viper indoors.

Wildlife photographer and author Mika Honkalinna, who encounters vipers daily at his property in Liminka, emphasized that the snakes pose little threat. “A viper doesn’t enter a home to attack,” he told Yle. “Encounters simply happen when we share the same territory.”

Honkalinna relocates vipers from his yard regularly, sometimes transporting them farther away in a bucket to prevent their return. This spring, one entered an outbuilding through an open door before being moved back to its natural habitat.

He advises wearing rubber boots, thick gloves, and sturdy clothing when handling vipers. Outdoors, a cardboard box or lidded bucket can be used with a rake or similar tool to guide the snake inside. Indoors, the process may prove more difficult, though the principle remains the same.

Vipers excel at hiding in structures or tall grass, so Honkalinna recommends keeping vegetation short to improve visibility. Birdhouses should be positioned away from overhanging branches, as vipers are skilled climbers that may raid nests.