A routine shopping trip turned into a startling encounter for a Brisbane man who discovered an unexpected passenger under the hood of his car.
After finishing his errands in Brisbane, Queensland, the man spotted an eastern brown snake slithering into his vehicle’s engine compartment. The eastern brown snake is classified as “highly venomous,” according to Snake Catchers Brisbane & Gold Coast, a local 24/7 snake removal service.
Fearing that starting the car might harm or provoke the snake, the man chose not to drive. Instead, he contacted the professionals at Snake Catchers Brisbane & Gold Coast, who quickly dispatched handler Luke to the scene to safely capture and relocate the reptile.
"This Eastern Brown Snake (highly venomous) was safely relocated by our Snake Catcher Luke after being spotted in a car in Murarrie! The snake had made its way here by climbing up from the underside of the engine," the snake-catching service shared on Facebook, along with photos of the yellow-brown snake peeking out from the car.
Willow Sorbello, a spokesperson for Snake Catchers Brisbane & Gold Coast, told Yahoo News that while it’s not very common for snakes to be found in cars, it does happen. Sorbello speculated that the reptile sought shelter in the car to stay warm, a behavior not unusual for snakes. “They often move on quickly after resting,” she added.
The eastern brown snake is one of the most frequently encountered snake species in Australia due to its natural habitat overlapping with heavily populated areas, according to the Australian Museum.
In a similarly surprising incident, a man in South Africa discovered a cape cobra curled under a pillow on his bed. Like the Brisbane case, the snake was safely removed and relocated by a professional handler.
Encounters like these serve as a reminder of how wildlife can sometimes venture into unexpected places, particularly in regions known for their snake populations.
Source: People Magazine