Python Found Inside Geneva Woman’s Car
A Unusual Call for Wildlife Control
For Brad Lundsteen, owner of Suburban Wildlife Control, a typical dispatch-call involves finding and catching common suburban critters like squirrels and mice.
A Snake in the Car
On Wednesday, a Geneva woman called him frantic saying a large snake slithered deep into her Toyota sedan. It was a ball python, about four-feet long, and it refused to come out.
The Snake’s Hiding Spot
“The minute the snake saw her, [it went] right up the undercarriage of the car and it was gone,” Lundsteen said. “It was wedged in a space this tight, wrapped around some parts.”
A Stubborn Snake
Lundsteen is a renowned wildlife catcher, but the snake was stiff, stubborn and held tight to the metal inside the vehicle. The smell under the car indicated the snake had nested there for quite some time.
A Half-Hour Rescue
“I started pulling and slowly got him out. It took me a half an hour. These guys, when they grab on, they are so strong,” he said.
The Snake’s Origin
Ball pythons are not native to Illinois, and are typically only found in their native habitat of Sub-Saharan Africa. But they are often purchased as pets and that is the leading theory of how the snake got in the woman’s car. Her vehicle was recently purchased from out-of-state.
A Hitchhiking Snake
“I know the snake didn’t come from here obviously, so it just goes to show animals do get in and hitch rides,” Lundsteen said.
The Snake’s New Home
The snake and its journey to Illinois were the talk of the town, and documented for hiss-tory on the front page of the Daily Herald newspaper. But now the python will have to trade-in its ride for a new, safer home. Lundsteen is working with nearby reptile rescue organizations to find it a permanent place to live.
Conclusion
The discovery of a ball python in a Geneva woman’s car is a reminder that animals can sometimes find themselves in unexpected places. With the help of wildlife control professionals like Brad Lundsteen, these creatures can be safely removed and relocated to a more suitable environment.
FAQs
Q: Where did the snake come from?
A: The leading theory is that the snake was purchased as a pet and was brought to Illinois from out-of-state.
Q: How did the snake get into the car?
A: The snake slithered into the car through the undercarriage and became wedged in a tight space.
Q: How was the snake removed?
A: The snake was removed by Brad Lundsteen, a wildlife control professional, who took a half-hour to slowly pull the snake out of the car.
Q: What will happen to the snake now?
A: The snake will be relocated to a new, safer home through the efforts of nearby reptile rescue organizations.
