RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — A South Carolina woman woke up and found a large snake in her bathroom on Tuesday.
Authorities said the woman got the shock of a lifetime after finding a ball python behind her toilet.
The woman, who lives at the Rice Terrace Apartments, told deputies she woke up around 5 a.m. to find the slithering surprise and immediately called law enforcement.
That’s when Richland County Master Deputy Shannon Huffman went into action.
"It was definitely different from emu wrangler to snake wrangler, but here I am; it’s a different day, different job criteria," said Richland County deputy Shannon Huffman.
“People don’t like snakes. A lot of deputies don’t like snakes," Huffman said. "A lot of people don’t like snakes, or they are not really sure how to handle something like that, so I thought, 'Well, I have a little bit of experience.'"
"Mostly I'm not afraid of snakes, and I have a little experience to identify a venomous snake or non-venomous snake, so I went ahead and asked dispatch to attach me to that call for service."
Huffman said the snake might have crawled out of a hole in the wall or from under the toilet and is believed to have been someone’s pet that got loose. This type of snake isn’t native to the state.
The deputy said her background knowledge was key in securing the creature in a pillowcase.
"I reached down and picked it up, I opened up the pillowcase, and I put it in there, tied it up. It was completely harmless. It wasn’t venomous; I knew that," Huffman said.
Huffman said the slithering creature is now in the hands of another deputy in Richland County, who is keeping it as a pet. While pet snakes are legal in South Carolina, the state has passed legislation prohibiting the release of non-native wildlife. The legislation also allows the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to restrict certain non-native species that could, in larger numbers, become a nuisance or harm other wildlife populations, agriculture, or people.
Regarding the unwelcome bathroom find, officials offered a few tips to help prevent snakes from entering places they shouldn't be. Deputies recommend covering and filling holes in your home, as snakes use those entrances to look for food.
“Any holes that you have in your walls or piping, make sure that they are stuffed with a putty or they have some sort of sealant around it or cuff around it to prevent any from going out, but of course, anything that may come in," Huffman said. "Especially if you are the person that is keeping additional snakes, try to keep those out."