A 3-foot bull snake that slithered into a woman’s car in Riverton, Wyoming, required a joint rescue effort from local police and an auto dealership, according to The Cool Down. I read the report, which says officers responded after the driver spotted the snake and couldn’t reach it herself.
The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and Riverton Police Department tried several times to extract the snake from the vehicle but were unsuccessful. They then contacted the dealership where the woman bought the car, and dealership employees used a shop vacuum to safely remove the nonvenomous bull snake. The snake was released unharmed into a nearby field. Bull snakes, which are native to Wyoming and much of the western United States, can grow up to 6 feet and are often mistaken for rattlesnakes because of their similar markings and defensive hissing behavior.
What this means for Wyoming homeowners
Snakes occasionally enter vehicles seeking warmth, shelter, or because they followed a rodent. Wyoming has 12 native snake species, only two of which are venomous (prairie rattlesnake and midget faded rattlesnake). Bull snakes are not venomous and are beneficial for rodent control around homes and gardens. If a snake gets into your car, do not try to grab it. Open the doors and trunk and wait for it to leave on its own, or call animal control for help. For more on handling snakes near your property, I have put together steps to safely remove a snake from your garden shed that cover safe identification and exit strategies.
The notice is published by The Cool Down at www.thecooldown.com.
