Aussie's deadly find hidden in sofa: 'Lucky I had pants on'
The only thing between her and the deadly reptile was a towel.
An Aussie relaxing after a long day of work had the shock of her life after discovering she'd been hanging out with a potentially deadly friend for over an hour.
Ali, 52, was winding down, enjoying an evening glass of wine while on the sofa in her home on Thursday, when she felt movement under her bottom.
After an hour or so, Ali got up to get another glass of wine and came back. Her couch is leather and the temperature was hot in Darwin River, Northern Territory, so she had been perched on a towel which she lifted to re-arrange. This is when she found out the squirming was not her muscles twitching, it was a snake.
"It's so gross," Ali says when recalling the moment she realised she'd been sitting directly atop a snake with only a towel between them. "I couldn't sit on the couch for hours after".
She immediately called for help and a local landscaper from the area, who deals with snakes often, came and took it safely away before releasing it out in the bush.
Believed to be a type of venomous brown snake
The Northern Territory is home to various snakes, some highly venomous. After sharing the image of the snake on a Snake Identification Facebook group, people responded by saying this was likely a brown snake. Brown snakes are found in the area and can kill with a bite.
One approved expert in the group who works with reptiles noted that the image is not clear but it could be a "Northern Brown snake".
Do you have a wildlife story? Contact reporter Laura Koefoed at laura.koefoed@yahooinc.com
Locals laughing it off
Physically unscathed following the encounter, Ali is now laughing at how unbelievable the situation was — along with everyone else. "Hindsight very lucky I had pants on. Snakes lucky to be alive too with the squashing," Ali said.
"Wow! You should write a short story of this and send it somewhere! That’s a great one haha!! Glad you’re ok," one friend responded.
"You'll never want to sit on your own lounge again," replied another.
Why do snakes come inside homes?
Drew Godfrey of Hervey Bay Snake Catchers previously told Yahoo that with hotter, dyer conditions they're seeing more house calls because snakes are looking for a cool, shady spot.
To help prevent a snake from entering your home, Godfrey said to place a few containers of water in your yard. "People think it'll attract snakes, but the fact of the matter is that snakes are there anyway. If they have water in the garden, they're more likely to stay in the garden. If they have no choice but to come around our house, then that's what they'll do."
What to do if you spot a snake:
Back away slowly
Keep an eye on the snake and keep your distance
Don’t panic or make fast movements
Don’t try to touch, catch or hurt the snake
Contact a professional snake catcher if one is in your home.
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