Snake sightings have been startling people all across the U.S. recently. Just this month alone, a mother in Tennessee found a copperhead in her child's stroller, and an Amazon delivery driver was left in critical condition after being struck by a rattlesnake near someone's front door in Florida. Now, at least two vehicle owners have also made unsettling snake discoveries. Read on to learn how you can stay safe as giant pythons are being found in people's car engines.
RELATED: 15-Foot Invasive Pythons Are Moving North From Florida and Can't Be Stopped.
Police pulled a python from a car engine in North Carolina earlier this month.
At the beginning of September, police officers in Kannapolis, North Carolina, were called by a resident who had found a large snake hanging from the engine of their parked car, The Charlotte Observer reported. "Just add snake wrangler to our list of duties! This little guy hitched a ride from Mooresville to Kannapolis and didn't want to leave," the Kannapolis Fire and Police Department wrote in a Sept. 7 Facebook post.
According to the newspaper, commenters quickly identified the non-native snake as a ball python. The department indicated that Officer Jason Whitley had removed the python from the engine, which was shown in a photo on the post. "It was not released. We found a person to care for it," police told The Charlotte Observer.
RELATED: 20 Rattlesnakes Found in Man's Garage—Here's Where They Were Hiding.
A similar scenario took place in Wisconsin.
This hasn't only occurred in North Carolina. A resident in Green Bay, Wisconsin, also recently found a similarly giant snake hiding in their car engine, NBC 26 reported. According to the local news outlet, police identified the reptile as a seven-foot-long jungle carpet python.
"It's kind of scary. I never thought anybody would be able to find a python underneath the hood of their car," Ellen Chaudoir, a Green Bay resident who lives near the block where the snake was found, told NBC 26. "For one thing, I don't like snakes. Another thing, it just seems so unreal."
RELATED: 4 Scents That Attract Snakes to Your Yard, Experts Say.
Experts say snakes like to hide in car engines for warmth.
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary Curator of Animals Lori Bankson said that the non-native snake found in Wisconsin was likely a pet that escaped from a nearby home—although police were unable to identify any residents with the exotic pet owner permits that are needed to keep jungle pythons in the city, UPI reported.
According to Bankson, the seven-foot python was first spotted in a garage on Pecan Street before it made its way under the hood of a parked vehicle on the block. "The owner of the vehicle was not the owner of the snake," she told NBC 26. "Most likely, the snake crawled up into this person's engine to stay warm, and found a good place to hang out for a little while."
A.H. David, a snake expert and founder of Pest Control Weekly, previously told Best Life that snakes are cold-blooded so they often try seeking out warm places to hide. "As reptiles, snakes depend on their environment to regulate body temperature," David explained. "A warm engine is a good heat source."
You should call animal control if you find a snake in your car's engine.
David said he recommends that people "try parking in their garage" to make it harder for snakes to get access into their vehicles. But you should also avoid leaving any clear entry points available to these warmth-seeking reptiles. "They can easily sneak in through an open door or window—or even up into your engine, undercarriage, or trunk if it's left open," John West, a pest expert from Alamo Termite & Pest Control previously told Best Life.
But if you do find any snake, including a python, hiding out in your car's engine, Bankson told NBC 26 that you should avoid starting your car right away and call animal control immediately. You should never just let them stay there, as "snakes can become wrapped up in moving belts and also cause electrical fires," according to Toyota of Orlando. But you shouldn't try to grab them with your bare hands either.
"Remember, they're at an advantage in their hiding spot and could likely strike at you before you got them. If you have a pole or some other instrument to get them out, use that," they said. "Otherwise, contact animal control to come and assist you in removing snakes from your car."
RELATED:For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Kali Coleman Kali Coleman is a Senior Editor at Best Life. Her primary focus is covering news, where she often keeps readers informed on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and up-to-date on the latest retail closures.Read moreFiled UnderNews • Pests • SafetyRead This Next209 Giant Invasive Pythons Caught in Florida
The snakes were removed during the state's annual Florida Python Challenge.September 18, 202315-Foot Pythons Are Moving North From Florida
Scientists say this snake species will spread into more parts of the U.S.September 13, 2023Giraffe-Sized Python Found in the U.S.
The record-breaking reptile is still just one small part of a much bigger problem.July 17, 2023The Smart Man's Guide to Spotting Counterfeit Wine
That $2,000 bottle of Bourdeaux might be worth $20. Here’s how to be sure it’s the real thing.April 13, 2017The 5 Best Light-Bodied Red Wines for Extending Your Summer
Don't let September ruin a killer party. August 25, 201717 Insanely Cool New Luxury Bicycles for Spring
Meet the bikes that cost more than a car.March 31, 2017Best Life Essentials
You deserve the best. Live life to the fullest with these ultimate essentials.October 21, 2016This Is the Safest Way to Store Meat
Don't let that filet set you up for food poisoning. February 7, 2018Here Are the 10 Wealthiest Cryptocurrency Millionaires Under 40
Including one guy who is only 24 years-old!February 7, 2018This Is the Safest Way to Clean Your Floors
Keep your floors clean and looking brand new with this easy tip. February 8, 2018
