Following a startling incident involving a black rat snake that shocked a family in Eugene, Missouri, the Missouri Department of Conservation is reminding citizens to thoroughly inspect their vehicles.
A black rat snake popped out of the engine compartment and stuck its head out onto the hood of the car while LeAnna Binkley, a local teacher, was taking her son Grady to baseball practice.
The mother and son pair, astonished but resolute, attempted to entice the reptile from the car. But the obstinate snake had other ideas.
Before it could be removed, the snake “popped out on the hood” and swiftly retreated back into the engine area, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Binkley was unable to persuade the slithering passenger to get out, so she continued driving, this time to her job at Cole R-5, the nearby school where she teaches.
When she arrived, she asked her colleagues, including the district superintendent, for assistance in locating and removing the unexpected reptile.
When the Department of Conservation posted the story on social media, it immediately attracted attention and brought attention to a larger issue.
Officials took advantage of the occasion to remind Missourians to look under their car hoods, particularly in the warmer months when snakes might seek out the warmth of engine compartments or the cover of a parked car.
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In Missouri, black rat snakes are widespread and non-venomous. Even though they are not a serious threat to people, it can be shocking to come across one without warning, especially when driving.
The department posted a gentle but firm reminder at the end of their post: always exercise caution, especially in rural or wooded areas, and if your car has been parked for a long time, take a quick look under the hood.
It’s impossible to predict what might be hitching a ride.
