Family find venomous snake in Christmas tree

A family in South Africa have discovered one of Africa’s most venomous snakes hiding in their Christmas tree. Having decorated the tree just hours earlier, Rob and Marcela Wild noticed their cats staring at its branches. The couple thought a mouse was hiding in the branches but then discovered it was a boomslang snake. “I thought ‘holy Moses, this is the king of all poisonous snakes,’” said Rob.

Remains of baby from 10,000 years ago found

Scientists have found the 10,000-year-old remains of a baby girl in a cave in Italy. The infant was wrapped in a blanket decorated with 70 beads and pendants made from two types of seashell. The Telegraph said the discovery changes the understanding of how Mesolithic tribes treasured their children, especially female infants. She has been nicknamed Neve after a river in the area.

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‘Greedy’ squirrel get stuck in bird feeder

A squirrel got stuck in bird feeder after eating all the nuts. Ruth Thomas-Coxon, an RSPCA officer, found the animal imprisoned by metal bars and had to use wire cutters to free the trapped grey squirrel, which rushed off. She said: “This greedy boy must have gone in – even though this is a squirrel-proof feeder – and obviously he had such a good feed he got wedged and was unable to exit.”