A Texas woman attempted to remove a snake from her yard on March 20 by dousing it with gasoline and setting it on fire, which is not a recommended method. Unfortunately, the snake slithered under a brush pile, causing the pile to catch fire and spread to her house, resulting in a total loss. The fire also damaged her neighbor’s house. No one was injured, except the snake. The incident was reported by CNN and Kens5.com.
Instead of using dangerous methods, the woman could have used the TX Snakes app for iOS, a Texas snake identification application that likely contained information about the reptile. A safer alternative is to contact local animal control for professional snake removal. Texas is home to over 75 snake species, including more than 10 venomous types. The specific snake in this incident was not identified due to the fire. For identification help, the Dallas Fort Worth Herpetological Society offers “An Identification Guide for North Texas Snakes” by Michael Smith, available for download in PDF format on their website. North Texas residents are encouraged to consult this guide. Want to Learn More? – Texas Herper Jeremy Weaver Releases TX Snakes 1.1 for iOS – Warm Weather in Texas May Bring Out Lots of Snakes – Shocking Sights at Two Texas Rattlesnake Roundups
