Copperhead Snake Found Inside Washing Machine While Missouri Teen Was Doing Laundry

KEY POINTS

The teen was pulling out her wet clothes from the machine when she saw the snake
The girl is still in shock and is even scared to do laundry
A snake catcher later removed the snake from the machine

A 15-year-old teen in Missouri was doing her laundry when she found a venomous snake inside the washing machine, which left her startled.

While the teen was pulling out her wet clothes from the machine, she saw the copperhead snake inside. The incident took place in Greene County last week.

"When she pulled a pair of shorts out, the copperhead came out of it. It was sitting on top of the clothes, trying to strike," Jessica Bruner, the 15-year-old's mother, told local daily the News-Leader on Monday.

Burner attempted to remove the reptile from the machine using a grabber tool but was unsuccessful.

"At waist height, it was a little hard because it was trying to strike," she said.

Bruner then contacted TRL Reptiles, a local snake rescue group. Snake catcher Jake Whitehead rushed to the scene and managed to remove the reptile using a hook in no time. He then put it in a bin and also checked the rest of the washing machine to ensure that there were no more snakes, New York Daily News reported.

"I called (Jake Whitehead), he rushed right over and hooked it with one of those snake hooks and put it in a container," Bruner said.

She says her daughter is still in shock and is even afraid to do laundry.

"Not laundry, that's for sure. She'll definitely be looking for these things before she sticks her hand into places, and we're really lucky she didn't get bit. She was quick enough to get her hand out of there before it striked (sic) because it was mad," Burner added.

Whitehead said he would keep all necessary tools in his truck itself so that he could rush whenever he got a call.

"I try to keep everything I might need in my truck ready to go, so all I have to do is hop in. A copperhead in a washing machine is not something somebody wants to wait on," he added.

Copperheads are large venomous snakes that are found throughout the southern and eastern United States. Their venom, however, is considered mild when compared to that of other venomous snakes.