After a Florida homeowner found a snake trapped in their home in the middle of the night, they turned to Reddit's r/Snakes community for advice on what to do next.
Here's what to know
In the Reddit thread, the original poster explained that after finding it at midnight, they trapped the snake under a glass bowl, prompting them to ask the forum, "Will he [be] okay under this bowl until morning?"
OP added, "I just don't want him to suffocate... I doubt I [will] sleep much tonight. I plan on having them out of the house by 7AM. I just don't know how yet. I think we both may have stressed each other out."
Fellow Redditors offered several suggestions for moving the animal without picking it up. Some identified the visitor as a rat snake or corn snake, with one specifically identifying it as a juvenile corn snake.
Another suggested that OP "put some cardboard under [the bowl] and bring it outside, like you would a spider. It's just a baby!" A second user similarly wrote that "He's just a little baby! If you're not comfortable picking him up, you can slide something under the bowl and bring him outside… It looks like a baby rat snake, they're not venomous, so they can't hurt you."
A third commenter strongly urged OP to address the situation before trying to go to sleep, writing, "I would highly recommend taking him outside now. He can't hurt you, but imagine how scary it would be to be trapped in a bowl all night… You need to set aside your fear for a moment."
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These pieces of advice ultimately helped OP build up enough bravery to free the snake outdoors. In an update, they wrote, "I slid a piece of cardboard under the bowl and got him outside. I guess I just needed a little encouragement. Thank you."
Where can I learn more?
Other homeowners have needed help identifying an unexpected snake visitor or freeing one that was trapped.
• A couple used olive oil to free a ring-necked snake stuck in tape beneath their sink.
• A North Carolina homeowner discovered a harmless corn snake inside a wall and received reassuring identification.
• A Virginia homeowner feared a basement visitor was venomous before learning it was a harmless ratsnake.
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