A stray corn snake turned a U.K. police parking lot into an unexpected rescue operation after officers saw it slither across the ground and climb into their patrol car.
What followed was part traffic stop, part animal rescue.
Here's what to know
Officers first noticed the snake creeping through the parking area and quickly stopped nearby drivers to keep it from being run over, The Sun reported. The corn snake, later nicknamed Brian, did not remain tucked beneath the car for cover and instead climbed into the wheel arch before disappearing deep into the undercarriage.
According to The Sun, attempts to get the reptile out involved trying to lure it out with a dead mouse and lifting the vehicle with a jack. When those efforts failed, garage mechanics raised the car even higher so rescuers could reach the snake more easily. Hampshire and Iow News (@HantsAndIowNews) shared photos of the ordeal on Facebook.
PC Biggs, whose full name was not released, described the moment.
"I genuinely couldn't believe what I was seeing," he said, per The Sun.
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A snake hidden inside a vehicle could easily be crushed, injured by heat or moving parts, or create a dangerous distraction if the car were driven before the animal was removed safely.
Fortunately, no people or animals were harmed, and the snake was safely transported to medical care.
"He was taken to Alver Vets for a check-up and thankfully suffered no injuries during his adventure. I've since been informed that Brian is a corn snake and is apparently very friendly. A huge thank you to everyone who helped," PC Biggs stated.
More background
A stray animal in a parking area potentially points to some form of human involvement, such as an escaped or abandoned pet.
Many unusual animal encounters do not happen in isolation. Roads, parking lots, and other built environments can quickly turn a confused animal's movements into a high-risk situation for both people and wildlife.
BBC Future has explored how human activity can help drive animal-human encounters by bringing animals and infrastructure into closer contact. In this case, the result was not an attack but a tense and potentially harmful standoff beneath a police cruiser.
Animals do not need to be large to create a serious problem around a vehicle. Even a small reptile can become stuck in hard-to-reach places that may need professional help to access safely.
What can be done?
The response in this case depended on quickly stopping traffic and bringing in the right specialists. Officers managed the immediate risk, while reptile experts and mechanics helped reduce the danger to the animal and to anyone nearby.
Do not try to pull a snake out by hand unless you are trained to handle it. If an animal disappears into a wheel well, engine bay, or undercarriage, it is safer to leave the vehicle off and seek help from animal rescue professionals, local authorities, or a qualified mechanic.
For people who own reptiles as pets, secure enclosures, careful transport, and quick reporting when an animal goes missing can stop an escape from turning into a roadside emergency.
Briefly checking a parked vehicle before you start your engine in places where animals may be sheltering might prevent a bad outcome.
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