Driver avoids deadly outcome after chance discovery in car's engine
Just moments before he was about to drive away, a motorist spotted an intruder scaling the side of his car.
A driver has avoided a deadly outcome after the surprise discovery of a 1.5 metre snake crawling up the side of his car and under the bonnet. One expert has warned the consequences of driving away with the snake on the engine could have proved fatal for the animal.
Images supplied to Yahoo News show the python curled up comfortably near the air filter where it could have sat undetected for hours.
Had the owner of the car driven away without knowing it was there, the wildlife rescuer who attended believes the native reptile would likely have been severely burned or even killed, leaving the animal in severe pain.
“He was about to drive out, and he was worried for the snake's safety, but I think he was scared of snakes more so. If he hadn’t seen it, the heat from the car would have just cooked him,” WIRES and WildCare rescuer Amy Wregg told Yahoo News on Monday.
Luckily the experienced Gold Coast rescuer was able to untangle the snake and release it safely within minutes. “All native wildlife is scared when you handle it. But the snake was quite appreciative of getting out of a tight situation and back into the bush uninjured,” she said.
Snakes at risk of roadside trauma as weather heats up
With the weather warming up, Wregg has seen an increase in snakes being hit and killed on the roads. And while it’s sad to see Australia’s reptiles lying dead, it’s the terrible impact of severe injuries that are most troubling.
“When the roads warm up more people start hitting them. And it’s the same old story where people think because it's a snake they don't need to call for help, but often they're left still alive on the side of the road,” Wregg said.
“I had one the other day that was still alive with its intestines hanging out after being hit a week ago.”
Anyone who spots an injured snake on the Gold Coast is urged to contact WIRES or WildCare. There are free rescue services in each state and territory in Australia.
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