A SC woman was on the brink of a panic attack after she discovered a snake on her car’s windshield while driving.
L. Ford told local outlet, WYFF, she saw the large reptile slither across her windshield as she was making her daily commute to work.
“I was about halfway to work when I saw this black snake slithering back and forth across my hood,” Ford explained. “At one point, it got between my wind guards and my window. Luckily, I had both windows rolled up.”
The SC woman revealed she was able to capture a video of the snake. “I was … dying of a panic attack. Snakes are my biggest phobia,” she admitted.
When asked where the snake came from, Ford had some ideas. “I’m guessing it was in my engine compartment. Once it got too hot, it decided to move to a cooler spot, and that’s when I saw it.”
She also pointed out that she was unable to find the snake after her drive. “Hopefully, it exited my vehicle and found a new home,” she noted.
The SC woman said she wanted to share her story to make others aware of what snakes are capable of. “Snakes will make a vehicle their home,” she added.
SC Dept. of Natural Resources Reveals the Types of ‘Black Snakes’ Found in the State
According to the SC Dept. of Natural Resources, there are only two species of snakes in our area that can grow to 5 feet in length and that are largely black. Both of the “black snake” species can be encountered in almost any setting in the upstate area.
“One difference between them is frequently exhibited when they are encountered by a person. At that time one of the species typically remains rather stationary as if ‘considering its next move,’ or moves slowly away; while the other with great speed vanishes seemingly enroute to the next county or beyond. The former species is the black rat snake, the latter is the black racer.”
The SC Dept. of Natural Resources states the black racer snake is slender and features a dull black color, except for its white chin. “Through their speedy movements they earn their name ‘racer.'”
“They are active and nervous prowlers that can ascend shrubs and even trees that have low limbs near the ground. Racers feed on a great variety of animal life ranging from insects to other reptiles.”
Meanwhile, the black rat snake is a “shiny black” reptile. Although this snake is slower than the black racer, it is described as “agile” when it comes to climbing.
“Their unique climbing abilities allow them to ascend the trunks of mature trees which they sometimes do in search of prey which includes birds and small mammals. A large black rat snake is a powerful constrictor and can kill and eat a full grown gray squirrel.”