[loloquwowndueo]

Not its natural habitat - it would probably die in winter

Axolotls are somewhat popular as pets so I’m thinking someone got rid of theirs by tossing it in the river and the girl just happened to find it afterwards.

Far more plausible explanation than “found in the wild 9000km and an ocean away from its place of origin”

[reactordev]

They freeze and thaw like Iguanas do in Florida. They can’t survive prolonged cold temperatures but when it does get to 15c they stop moving.

[illwrks]

I wonder if that's why she had caught it so easily, not many people are visiting the UK for it's sunny climate.

[scns]

The UK is sometimes warmer in winter than other european countries further south because of the gulf stream.

[macintux]

I hope this assertion ages well.

[yrcyrc]

It might not. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47877088

[mr_toad]

Yeah, but the water temperature at this time of year is still pretty cold.