8-foot snake under car hood gives MB mechanics a 'hiss-terical' surprise
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — A Myrtle Beach automotive company was in for a surprise when they found a large snake under the hood of a car Tuesday morning.
Beach Automotive employees were shocked when Russell Cavender, known as "The Snake Chaser," responded to pull an albino boa constrictor from a 2015 Ford Focus engine.
TOP STORY: Studded bra for breast cancer awareness fundraiser stolen from Robeson Co. restaurant
"I have found many many things underneath the hood of cars. Possums, Squirrels rats, and several snakes, but never an 8-foot albino boa constrictor," Cavender said in a Facebook post.
The car was brought in for a clutch shutter and recall. Beach Automotive Technician Tony Galli said that a snake was the last thing he expected to see when he took a look under the hood.
“I popped the hood open, I saw this big thing laid across it, I didn’t even know what it was. I thought it was an oil sock to absorb oil. Then I was like ‘No that’s a snake.’ then I poked it and it moved and I was like ‘that thing is alive,'” Galli said.
But this wasn’t just any snake, this was an 8-foot albino boa constrictor. A species not native to South Carolina.
"I called Matt, the shop foreman there, and said ‘You good with snakes?’ and he said ‘No, is it a Garter snake, because we had one yesterday here’ and I said ‘No, this is bigger than a Garter snake," Galli said.
That’s when they called Snake Chaser Russell Cavender to assess the situation.
"Well, I am glad I had a mechanic there, because he did have to take a few parts out so I could get him out, and he came out a lot easier than I thought he would because this is pure muscle. If he wanted to wedge himself in a certain part of that engine, it would have taken a long time. A lot of coaxing," Cavender said.
“I’ve never seen anything albino before. This is the first albino snake I have crossed. It’s obviously non-native, but it was cool," Cavender said.
While boa constrictors aren’t venomous, Cavender said their bites pack a punch, which is why he’s glad he was called to do the job.
"If you get bit by this snake, it’s dangerous. You can have stitches and severe injuries from them. But he [the snake] seems pretty calm. But you can’t trust a boa," Cavender said.
TRENDING:Parents worried about wrecks near Florence school after teen left with brain injury following crash
Cavender believes the snake probably slithered into the engine for warmth.
He also said it probably was someone’s pet that wasn’t well taken care of because of the wrinkles on its body and being underweight.
He said if someone claims the snake, he will make sure it has proper care.
If no one comes forward, they will nurse it back to health and give it to a breeder.