A driver nearly ran over an injured ball python at a gas station, mistaking it for a discarded napkin.
The driver stopped in time and took the snake home to safety.
Here's what to know
The story quickly caught on with other reptile owners online, and the post passed 1,200 upvotes.
The driver shared the encounter in a Reddit post in the community r/BallPython, describing how they spotted the snake just before hitting it and took it home.
The python was "a little scraped up," according to the original poster, who assembled a temporary enclosure.
More background
Commenters pointed out that ball pythons are inexpensive and commonly sold, which they said makes it easier for some owners to give them up without much thought.
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The poster suspected the snake had been abandoned.
"Posted it on Pawboost just in case it's someone's pet, but I think it was probably dumped," they wrote, though they also searched for a possible owner.
What can be done?
Getting a cold, scraped, or disoriented snake into stable care quickly can make all the difference.
The rescuer added a humid hide to the temporary setup and gave the python an iodine soak.
They also planned to get a heater for the snake.
"Poor guy, but it got real lucky I saw it before someone hit it," the rescuer said.
Where can I learn more?
Other pythons have turned up around cars and roadside businesses, too.
• A Pennsylvania driver stopped for gas and said a python lunged from the engine.
• New Jersey police freed a three-foot ball python wedged in a car grille.
• In Rhode Island, a python rescued from a car engine survived despite vets urging euthanasia.
• A cold and injured python turned up near a McDonald's drive-thru in New Hampshire.
• Police moving a car in the Netherlands discovered two live pythons inside its center console.
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