Massive snake found in Texas backyard. Police department sends ‘the new guy’ to help
One Texas police rookie can walk a little taller after tackling a pretty scary looking reptile on Labor Day.
Rookie officer Trimble of the Haltom City Police Department took on the task of safely catching – and releasing – a large snake from the backyard of a 93-year-old resident. In a light-hearted Facebook post, the department poked fun at Trimble’s careful handling of the snake.
“When a 93-year-old citizen finds a snake in her backyard, who do you send? The new guy,” the department said in the post. They even facetiously called the snake a “rare north Texas spitting cobra viper.”
No worries - according to CBS News 11, the snake turned out to be a harmless, nonvenomous bullsnake. Some eagle-eyed Texans pointed that out in the comments section of the post.
“Looks like a harem bull snake. But! They can make you hurt yourself,” said one Facebook user. “After 15-20 years living in snake country we finally bought a $120 snake grabber.”
Snake encounters usually increase during the summertime in Texas due to temperatures rising, Texas A&M AgriLife Today reported. When coming upon a snake, it’s always best to leave it alone.
“Most bites occur when a person is trying to handle the snake or trying to kill it,” Maureen Frank, a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist said. “It’s best to give them plenty of room and let them go on their way. When you encounter a snake, it’s best to just leave it alone.”
Or, you can always call in some snaking-charming police rookies.
This story was originally published September 7, 2020 at 3:55 PM with the headline "Massive snake found in Texas backyard. Police department sends ‘the new guy’ to help."