Latest news with #NCSnakeCatcher
New York Post
25-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
Boa constrictor found hiding under North Carolina McDonald's drive-thru window
A trip to a McDonald's ended in a large exotic snake being removed from the drive-thru over the weekend in North Carolina. Talena Chavis, also known as the NC Snake Catcher, was called out to a local McDonald's in Cary on Saturday afternoon after a non-native snake was found in the drive-thru. Chavis said the man and woman who called her said they had put the snake into a box after another drive-thru customer had pulled the snake out from under the drive-thru's delivery window and put it elsewhere near the McDonald's. 3 A snake catcher was called to a McDonald's when a boa constrictor was discovered in the drive-thru. Talena Chavis/NC Snake Catcher / FOX Weather The calling couple told Chavis they thought the snake was a python. Chavis and her husband said they'd take care of it and jumped in the car. 'It's so good that her and her husband intervened,' Chavis said. 'Because I have zero doubt that they were the reason there was a positive outcome for that snake.' When Chavis arrived at the McDonald's, she opened the cardboard box the snake was in and realized it wasn't a python, but a boa constrictor. It was her first call in nine years of reptile-catching for a boa constrictor. 'We didn't expect to get something quite as exotic as we did,' Chavis said. 'Nor as big.' 3 Telena Chavis rescued the snake after a couple at the restaurant caught it and put it in a box. Talena Chavis/NC Snake Catcher / FOX Weather It was Chavis' first time being called to a McDonald's for snake removal. She said she gets calls for non-native snake species roughly once every three months. Chavis estimated that the snake was just under 4 feet long and is believed to be a female. The snake was very docile and in good condition, and likely hadn't been in the wild for very long. She said the boa was most likely dumped or lost by someone who was no longer in the area. Chavis said the couple who reported the snake tried calling local animal control, who told them they only dealt with domestic animals. 3 The snake's owner did not come forward, so it will be adopted. Talena Chavis/NC Snake Catcher / FOX Weather Finally, a Google search led them to Chavis and her business. 'They were the guardian angels that saved that snake,' Chavis said of the couple. 'Things would not have gone well for it one way or the other.' After a few days of lost-and-found calls and hoping to find the boa's owner, no one came forward. Chavis said one of her NC Snake Catcher employees took the snake home and is adopting her, so long as the original owner doesn't come forward with proof of ownership.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Explore 7 stories demystifying NC copperheads and other snakes
Stories by News & Observer journalists, with AI summarization North Carolina copperheads, our most common venomous snake, are often spotted searching for food like cicadas or rodents in yards and gardens. Experts say copperheads prefer hiding under vegetation, porches, or in piles of leaves and wood, so clearing these shelters is the best way to make your space less attractive to them. Removing food sources like spilled birdseed can also help, as rodents drawn to the area bring copperheads in. Stories clarify common myths, such as baby copperhead bites not being more dangerous than adults, and that copperheads would rather avoid humans than bite. If you do see a snake, experts advise giving it space, not handling it, and calling professionals like NC Snake Catcher if needed, while always watching where you step, especially at night or in thick ground cover. Copperheads are NC's most common venomous snake, and sometimes they come a little too close to our front doors. | Published July 18, 2023 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Fact or fiction: Are baby copperhead bites more venomous than adult bites? Here's what the experts say. | Published August 9, 2023 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella I've written more than a dozen stories about copperheads, but this was my first up-close-and-personal encounter. (Tip: cussing the snake out doesn't help.) | Published September 25, 2023 | Read Full Story by Brooke Cain Glass (legless) lizards look remarkably snake-like. We talked to wildlife experts to find out how to tell the difference. | Published May 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted We fact checked 15 common beliefs about snakes, including several about copperhead behavior. | Published May 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska We may be more likely to see snakes this time of year, as the weather warms. Use this information to make encounters less scary. | Published March 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted Humans know to leave snakes alone if we see them. Dogs don't. In case a copperhead strikes your furry friend, keep these tips in mind. | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted Brooke Cain The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
