U.S. Coast Guard Finds 'Unexpected Stowaway' Snake Wrapped Around Helicopter Wheel

Kelli Bender
·2 min read
23

The corn snake, a nonvenomous reptile native to Florida, was released near the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater

<p> U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater</p> The corn snake found wrapped around the rear wheel of a helicopter at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater

U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater

The corn snake found wrapped around the rear wheel of a helicopter at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater

Snakes on a plane!

A curious snake shocked members of the U.S. Coast Guard at an air station in Clearwater, Florida.

The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater posted on Instagram about the incident on Feb. 11, revealing that a snake managed to stow away on a helicopter that landed at the air station.

"This unexpected stowaway was found napping on a Jayhawk tailwheel. He reluctantly departed the scene when confronted," the station captioned the post, which also included a photo of the reptile interloper.

In the photo, the orange-colored snake is tightly wrapped around the rear wheel of the helicopter.

According to the Miami Herald, the scaly intruder is a 2-foot-long corn snake, a nonvenomous reptile native to Florida.

Related: U.S. Coast Guard Rescues 'Very Happy' Dog Stuck in Shipping Container 'For at Least a Week'

The outlet added that the reptile was found coiled around the helicopter on Feb. 9 during a post-flight inspection of the MH60 helicopter conducted by Petty Officer 2nd Class Cole Lindvall.

Lindvall, who is not a fan of snakes, said he let another station official remove the animal and release it near the station.

This stowaway snake situation comes a few weeks after a cat owner in Australia discovered a dangerous snake wrapped around her feline's neck.

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According to a Facebook post from Rebecca Daynes of Brisbane, the pet parent found her cat Mabel "with an eastern brown snake tightly coiled around her neck" on Jan. 30.

Eastern brown snakes are a venomous reptile found throughout eastern Australia, including in densely populated areas. They are responsible for more snake bite deaths in Australia than other snake species, per the Australian Museum.

Daynes added on social media that she responded to the shocking snake sighting in an "adrenaline-filled haze." Mabel's owner unraveled the snake from the cat's neck "with a pair of kitchen tongs."

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