A Plane Had To Make An Emergency Landing Due To A Highly Venomous Snake
With the new trend of emotional support animals and just animals flying in the main cabin on planes, I always wonder/am slightly afraid of what I may end up sitting next to. I love dogs, but I’m not sure I want one sitting next to me on a flight. And I certainly don’t want to end up next to a more exotic animal like a peacock or who knows what else. But any animal verified by the airline would be better than this situation I’m about to tell you about. A pilot on a flight in South Africa discovered an uninvited guest on the plane- a highly venomous snake. That’s right the pilot was on a flight with four passengers when he felt something on his back he told the Associated Press. He looked and saw the head of the snake a Cape Cobra underneath the plane’s seat.
According to Cape Snake Conservation, the Cape Cobra is “medium-sized” with a max length of 71 inches. That’s large in my snake-hating mind. They are common in South Africa and yes they are highly venomous. Cape Snake Conservation says the mortality rate isn’t known. But medical attention is required if bitten. So the pilot sees the snake, what happens next? No way he continues that flight right?
Landing The Plane With A Snake Onboard
Right. After he informed his passengers of the stowaway (that’s one conversation I wouldn’t want to have or hear), he communicated with air traffic control. NCEN reports that the pilot was able to land in a small South African town. Unfortunately, that town was about 10-15 minutes away. So they had to fly on the plane with the uninvited snake passenger. That makes my skin crawl just thinking about it. (I’m on the third floor of a building in North Carolina and I’ve looked down at my feet 3 times in fear).
Emergency responders and snake handlers met the plane at the airport and searched it for 2 days. Only to never find the snake. They theorize it must have escaped while being searched. The passengers found another ride to their destination, however, the pilot, well he had to fly his plane back home knowing that Cape Cobra could still be on board. Yeah no matter how much that plane cost I think I’d take the loss. Insurance has to cover that right?
The moral of this story is, I’ll be thankful if the only animals I encounter in mid-air are dogs or even the peacock.
North Carolina has Six Venomous Snakes On Our Ultimate Snake List
Cottonmouth: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Every year I see probably about ten of these lovely creatures. They make me jump out of my skin. This venomous snake is also called Water Moccasin. This is the most common venomous snake out of the six. It is found literally everywhere throughout North Carolina. The bites for these bad boys are he bites are pretty painful, but deaths from copperhead bites are extremely rare. You can see more on this snake here.
The Longest Snake in the World
This is a worthwhile one if you like snakes. The average length of a reticulated python is 20 feet. That’s the length of two basketball hoops! These snakes are found in southeast Asia. The habitat preferences of these animals appear to depend on their location, but they enjoy rainforests, woodlands, and grasslands. You can see more on this snake here.
Eastern Coral Snake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Though I love the colors, I wouldn’t get close to them! The Eastern Coral Snake is often referred to as the candy stick snake. It is normally the most misidentified snake found in North Carolina. In the southern Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Louisiana, including Florida, the eastern coral snake is scattered. Throughout their range, they can be found grazing in areas of scrub oak sandhills and pine Flatwoods that flood seasonally. You can’t legally kill the Eastern Coral Snake due to their endangered status. You can see more on this snake here.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Just seeing photos of this snake gives me nightmares. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the largest and perhaps the most dangerous species of rattlesnake in the world. The backs of these heavy-bodied pitvipers are covered with black diamond patterns outlined in dark diamonds. In North Carolina, diamondbacks are usually found in sandy pine Flatwoods in the southeastern Coastal Plain. You can’t legally kill the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake due to their endangered status. You can see more on this snake here.
The Heaviest Snake in the World
Wow! The heaviest snake in the world is the green anaconda. They can reach up to 220 pounds and 16 feet in length. A native of South America, the green anaconda inhabits swamps, marshes, and streams. These snakes are nonvenomous. You can see more on this snake here.
Copperhead: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Do you often see these? I sure do. Most North Carolinians know at least the name of the copperhead. Copperheads are typically between two and three feet long, with a fairly heavy body. North Carolina is home to the most common and widespread venomous snake, the copperhead. You can see more on this snake here.
Pigmy Rattlesnake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
They’re kind of cute, aren’t they? Pigmy Rattlesnakes are also venomous snakes in North Carolina. In the United States, pigmy rattlesnakes are the smallest species of rattlesnake. Snakes that live in this region usually have dull gray bodies with a row of dark spots running down the center of their backs. In North Carolina, pigmy rattlers are found in pine Flatwoods and scrub oak habitats in the southeastern Coastal Plain and the Sandhills. They have been found at Crowder’s Mountain State Park in Gaston County. You can see more on this snake here.
Timber Rattlesnake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Rattlesnakes of this species are large and heavy-bodied, with dark bands or chevrons protruding from their bodies. They are most commonly found in mountains and coastal plains. One of the most impressive things about this snake is the fact that it can strike up to 1/3 to 1/2 of its body length. I am not a fan of this snake. You can see more on this snake here.
