Deadly Snake Found In Family’s Fridge, The Images Will Haunt You

On January 13, a woman named Gail Auricht discovered a red-bellied black snake dangling out of her fridge’s ice dispenser, and it’s safe to say that it wasn’t looking for leftovers.

Gail’s neighbor posted a picture of the scaled assailant the following day, and it’s nothing like what we or any professional snake catcher has ever seen before.

Though stumbling into the kitchen for a drink and locking eyes with a red-bellied black snake is the stuff of nightmares, they’re not trying to steal your soul or swallow you whole or anything like that.

The real reason that snakes seek refuge in refrigerators and air conditioners is to regulate their temperature on hot summer days. Conversely, it’s not uncommon to catch them hiding in your car engine during the winter months to keep warm either.

Luckily, this type of snake isn’t deadly like other breeds. Though their venom can cause symptoms like swelling, headaches, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle weakness, there are no confirmed deaths from a red-bellied black snake bite that we know of.

It goes without question that experiencing a bite and the symptoms that follow will probably ruin your week, but the important takeaway is that you’ll probably live to tell your friends about it.

It’s also worth noting that a red-bellied black snake probably won’t even consider biting you if you don’t provoke it.

For one thing, humans aren’t generally on their menu, as they primarily consume frogs, lizards, and small mammals. If you have a pet hamster or kitten, you may want to put yourself on heightened watch, however.

The red-bellied black snake isn’t inherently aggressive either. But if it perceives danger, it will naturally try to defend itself. In other words, if you leave it alone, you’ll be out of harm’s way.

This hasn’t been the only snake sighting by any stretch of the imagination. Similar social media posts show instances of the red-bellied black snake hanging from the bumper of a Rural Fire Service vehicle, and even under a restaurant’s coffee machine.

Depending on the weather conditions and the snake’s temperature needs, there’s no telling where they’ll pop up.

Snake catchers have also suggested that climate change is making their jobs a little more involved in recent years. Since 1910, Australia’s temperature has risen by 1.4 degrees Celsius. This has encouraged our slithery friends to seek refuge in our homes and inside our appliances in much higher numbers.

If you’re not too keen about letting a snake into your home, some safe measures can be easily implemented. Starting with the obvious, closing your windows and doors is the first line of defense.

Storing your food properly will also make your domicile a little less attractive than one that has free snacks scattered all over the place. When all else fails, ensure you have a snake catcher on speed dial.