Chris Purdy, THE CANADIAN PRESS

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SASKATOON - A popular snake named Tickles has been found alive and well after being snatched four months ago from the Saskatoon zoo.

The 1.5-metre-long royal ball python was discovered by a staff member Thursday in one of the zoo's barns that houses waterfowl such as swans, ducks and geese during the winter. The snake was curled up in a tarp on the opposite side of the building from the birds, said zoo spokesman John Moran.

He said the non-venomous reptile likely didn't slither in there on its own.

"I'm guessing that whomever removed him from his enclosure did bring him back," Moran said.

Tickles was stolen from a glass enclosure in the children's exhibit in August. Witnesses told city police the snake was loaded into a car that sped away from the parking lot.

Moran said he believes the culprit returned to the zoo with Tickles hidden in a backpack and released it in the barn, which is open during the day to the public.

"That's how we anticipate he was taken in the first place," Moran said.

He said the snake was cold and suffering from a few scratches and dry skin but is generally in good health. The animal also seems to have kept its gentle good nature.

"It looks like he'd been fed and taken care of."

The birds in the barn were too large for Tickles to eat, said Moran.

For its first meal back at home, the snake was served up a mouse.

Tickles will be kept in the zoo's quarantine unit for the next month so staff can monitor him. It will likely be back on public display in late January.