Surprising Snake Encounter Shakes Up Columbia Residents

Surprising Snake Encounter Shakes Up Columbia Residents

Columbia, SC – Imagine starting your day off with a cup of coffee and suddenly finding yourself face-to-face with an unexpected guest—a large snake! Well, that was the reality for one woman who woke up bright and early on Tuesday morning, only to stumble upon a ball python lounging behind her toilet. Talk about a wake-up call, right?

According to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, this strange encounter happened around 5 a.m. at the Rice Terrace Apartments and Townhomes. It’s safe to say the woman was startled and let out a scream, calling for help as anyone would after a reptilian surprise of that magnitude. Thankfully, neither she nor the slithery intruder was harmed.

A Calm Rescue Amidst the Chaos

When deputies arrived at the scene, they quickly sprang into action. Master Deputy Alexandra Salrin reported that they managed to safely extract the exotic ball python, which had caused quite a bit of chaos in the bathroom. The snake was initially placed into a pillowcase, likely giving it a cozy little ride into the world outside the toilet.

“We were able to provide a solution to the resident quickly and save the snake’s life!” Salrin proudly stated. The only real casualty from this wild encounter was the bathroom itself, which found itself flooded, though details on how the snake caused the flooding remain a little murky. Could it be a matter of panic or just a misplaced water source?

Curiosity and Concern

Now, you might be wondering how a ball python ended up in someone’s apartment in the first place. The sheriff’s department is scratching their heads over this one as they currently have no clues regarding the snake’s origin.

Salrin speculated, “It’s possible that this snake could be someone’s pet that escaped from another unit.” But without anyone coming forward to claim the wayward snake, those theories remain just that—speculation.

All Hands on Deck

After the ordeal, the woman initially called a friend for reassurance before the duo decided to contact the law enforcement. Master Deputy Shannon Huffman, who’s been with the sheriff’s department for almost four years, was part of the Community Action Team that stepped in to save the day.

With experience handling a variety of animals, Huffman knew what to do when he got the call. The sheriff’s department indicated that while it’s not every day they get a call about an exotic animal, they are trained for such unusual occurrences.

“This was definitely a unique call for service for us,” Salrin shared, emphasizing the team’s dedication to being ready for any situation that might come their way. “We prepare our deputies to expect to be called to incidents that they never expected to be dealing with and our deputies are trained to assess situations and determine if there is another agency or specialized unit that may need assistance.”

The Future of the Snake

What happens to the ball python now? Well, the sheriff’s department has ensured that the snake won’t be left to fend for itself. It was taken home by one of their Operations deputies, who will hopefully give it a better living situation than behind a toilet!

While the woman likely spent a good part of her day trying to recover from the shock of the encounter, you can bet she’ll have a curious story to tell that will leave her friends wide-eyed. And as for the snake, well, let’s hope it finds a warm, cozy place away from unsettling bathroom surprises. It’s been quite the adventure in Columbia, and who wouldn’t want a front-row seat to that kind of drama?

Stay tuned as this story may continue to unfold with more updates regarding our newfound slithering friend!