Shocking discovery

Snakes nestled in meter distributors

These snakes were found by Energie Steiermark employee Gerhard Oswald in a meter distributor on Saturday morning.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Energie Steiermark)

Even experienced Energie Steiermark fitters don't experience this every day: After a homeowner in Trahütten in western Styria reported a foul stench coming from a meter box, two large dead snakes were discovered inside - a third specimen was still alive and kicking. 

Energie Steiermark fitter Gerhard Oswald had to show strong nerves on Saturday morning: The owner of a weekend house in Trahütten (Deutschlandsberg district) had raised the alarm with the energy supplier because he had noticed a foul smell coming from a meter distributor near his house. 

Suddenly something moved after all
When the technician opened the box, he discovered two large, dead snakes inside. Then came the big surprise: "When the operation was almost complete, a third, live snake was discovered," Energie Steiermark spokesman Urs Harnik told the "Krone" newspaper.

Energie Steiermark employee Gerhard Oswald found these snakes in a meter distributor on Saturday morning.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Energie Steiermark)

The regional warning center dispatched an expert from the mountain and nature rescue service. He determined that the animals were Aesculapian snakes - they are among the largest snakes in Europe and can grow up to two meters long, but they are not poisonous. 

"We are currently trying to free the snake alive, which is not so easy," said Harnik on Saturday morning.