No, Thank You: Over 1,000 Snakes Are Invading Flooded Homes In Texas

The flooding waters plaguing Texas and Oklahoma are bringing a massive serving of scaly gifts into people's homes.

Oklahoma City's Jeff Lara found a 4-foot rat snake in his grill, according to Yahoo! News.

Mary Weir of Dallas came upon a 2-foot snake slithering into her linen closet.

The Dallas Morning News reports 911 Wildlife, a group responsible for removing invasive animals from homes in numerous Texas cities, received hundreds of snake-related phone calls.

Reports of over 1,000 snakes being discovered in homes in North Texas and Houston have recently surfaced.

911 Wildlife's Bonnie Bradshaw said,

The important thing is not to try and kill the snake because that's how people get bitten. If you're trying to hit it with something, then the snake is going to strike and defend itself.

Weir carried her new friend outside with a mop while Lara used a shovel to throw the snake on the ground, allowing it to slither off.

North Texas is home to four venomous types of snakes: rattlesnakes, copperheads, water moccasins and coral snakes.

The most common snakes in the area, however, are harmless. These include grass snakes, water snakes and rat snakes that can grow up to six feet in length.

Herpetologist Andrew Gluesenkamp with the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife told The Dallas Morning News just one or two people die from snake bites in Texas each year.

The floods also happened to take place during mating season for alligators, meaning these creatures could be waiting in the flood water as well.

Major Chad Norvell with Fort Bend County Sheriff's Department in Texas said,

Alligators travel great distances this time of year and having more water to do it in certainly facilitates it.

Bradshaw also expressed concern about stinging fire ants that combine to form what looks like a rug floating on the water.

She left one simple piece of advice for those who come upon one such illusion:

Stay away.

Citations: Floods in Texas and Oklahoma bringing surprise snakes to homes (Yahoo News), Heavy rains drive snakes into open some into homes (The Dallas Morning News)