What first sounded like a Toy Story reference turned out to be literal for a Virginia family when a 12-year-old told their parent there was "a snake in my shoe."
The parent initially assumed it was a joke, but then they checked and discovered a small ringneck snake inside.
Here's what to know
In a Reddit thread, the original poster shared a video of a tiny snake that easily blends into the shoe's color. "The other day we were in a hurry and I asked my son (12) to get his shoes on and let's go. And he said 'there's a snake in my shoe' — I told him to stop joking and let's go only to walk over and see this neat little ring neck," they wrote.
(Click here if the embedded video does not appear)
The original poster later said the family is in Virginia and added: "We find one about every two years or so in our home."
In the replies, one commenter identified the visitor as "Diadophis punctatus ringneck and !harmless."
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Another focused on how narrowly both the child and the snake avoided harm, writing: "So glad your son was paying attention and the little guy didn't get squished!"
More background
Homes, patios, garages, and landscaped yards create edges between built spaces and animal habitat, giving creatures more chances to wander inside. As BBC Future has explained in a report on why wild animals attack humans, these encounters are often less about aggression and more about proximity.
A snake hiding in a shoe is not necessarily "invading" so much as using a shelter that humans happened to place in its path.
Fortunately, the incident ended on a positive note, since the child noticed the movement, the parent stopped to look, and the snake was not stepped on or crushed.
What can be done?
Check shoes, gloves, towels, and other items left on the floor, porch, or in a garage before using them.
Keeping clutter down near entry points can help, too. Storing shoes on racks and closing doors promptly may reduce the chances of animals slipping inside and settling into a hidden spot.
If a snake does show up indoors, the safest response is usually to give it space and avoid grabbing it unless you are certain you can handle it safely.
The Toy Story parallel came up in the comments, too. One commenter asked: "Anyone else read the title in Woody's voice?"
The original poster then added the detail that made the moment even more fitting: "Ha. And to top it off, my son is named Andy."
Where can I learn more?
Snakes turning up in homes, yards, and stored belongings can lead to similar close calls. The articles here cover indoor snake surprises, rising household encounters, a backyard apology, an urgent bite identification, and a rescue fallout in Australia.
• In Arkansas, snakes took over a vacant home as experts said the shelter was largely harmless.
• Across the Mid-South, snake calls surged 50% as small openings let them in.
• A homeowner's apology to a backyard garter snake opened a wider conversation about snake-friendly yards.
• In North Carolina, a family posted an urgent snake photo after a mother was bitten.
• In Australia, rescuers were sick and tired after a homeowner killed a red-bellied black snake.
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