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Woman Finds 8-Foot Snake in Washer

AP
posted: 17 DAYS 2 HOURS AGO
comments: 232
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GORHAM, Maine (July 17) - A woman got the shock of her life when she found an 8-foot snake mixed in with clothes in her washing machine. The snake, identified as a reticulated python, somehow got into the water pipes of Mara Ranger's 1800s-era farmhouse and slithered into the machine.
After Ranger took her blue jeans out of the machine Wednesday, she reached back into the load and felt something move.
"I jumped back and all of sudden its head starts coming out of the washing machine and it looked huge," Ranger told WMTW-TV.
Ranger quickly closed the lid and called police and an animal control officer, but they didn't want anything to do with the serpent.
When Richard Burton, who operates Maine Animal Damage Control in Lewiston, arrived at Ranger's house, he could barely believe his eyes.
Burton reached into the machine wearing a pair of welding gloves, expecting to come out with a 4-foot snake. But when he pulled the animal out, it kept coming and coming — all 8 feet of it.
Once out of the machine, the angry snake wrapped itself around Burton's hand, cutting off the blood flow. Burton then wrestled the scaly reptile into a plastic bag, tied it shut and brought it to Lewiston.
That's where Jen Lewis, a wildlife rehabilitator who works at the Kennel Shop, identified it as a python. The snakes kill prey with their teeth but are not poisonous, she said.
Lewis and Lewiston's animal control officer planned to find the snake a home at a wildlife refuge.
But how the snake ended up in the washing machine remains a mystery. Burton guessed it was somebody's pet and that the owner ended up tossing it out into the wild when it got too big. It then made its way through the water pipes and into the washing machine, probably after the load was done, he said.
In the meantime, Ranger said she's a little paranoid.
"Now that it's gone, I'm going to be checking crevasses and corners," Ranger said. "I'm going to be looking in the tub first — before and after, maybe even during, the rinse cycle."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-07-17 17:18:34
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kissanangel42

07:24 AMJul 28 2008

maybe the snake was in the load before she threw it in the machine. It could have been hiding in the dirty laundry. It was probably a male snake and drawn to the scent on her dirty underware and blue jeans. but keep in mind folks the only snake you must fear is the one-eyed snow snake. if you are outside in the winter it will crawl up your butt and freeze you to death

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CrowRedEye

09:19 PMJul 22 2008

A large snake can squeeze through quite tiny openings, and an 8 foot retic. is strong enough to push a pipe screen out of its way. This type of occurance is not that rare any longer, with people dumping exotic pets in places where they do not belong. I worked in an animal facility for years and you wouldn't believe the calls we'd get! Snakes in the john(usually due to Junior's poor skills as a herpotologist) are NOT rare any longer! Uncommon, maybe, but not rare, and darned funny!

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Maine4Me2

06:16 PMJul 21 2008

If anyone thinks that this cannot happen, then I suggest you think again.Many years ago in the Fort Lauderdale area of Florida a man went to use the commode when all of a sudden a scream as loud as could be was heard. It seems that while seated and reading a sports magazine, from inbetween his legs a snake emerged from the toilet. I never would have believed this could happen but I was with my family at this home for a holiday get together that evening.Since then, before I use any bathroom, I flush the toilet and if someone has placed the lid in the down or closed position, I always very cautiously lift it up never knowing if an unwanted surprise is waiting.

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BombquishaDavis

10:09 AMJul 21 2008

All I can say is...feet don't fail me now!

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(0)

Newconcord6

09:01 AMJul 21 2008

i FIND THIS STORY QUITE IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE. UNSCREW THE HOSE FROM THE BACK OF YOUR WASHER LOOK INSIDE THE CONNECTION ON THE MACHINE YOU WILL SEE A SCREEN BLOCKING THE INLET PIPE SO NO WAY THIS COULD HAPPEN.SOMEBODY PUT THE SNAKE IN THE MACHINE.

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(3)

J1 Plus B1

07:21 PMJul 20 2008

TRICK OR TREAT, APRIL FOOLS. SOMEBODY PLANTED IT. #1 THE SNAKE WOULD'NT SURVIVE MAINE CLIMATE.#2 WOULD'NT MAKE IT THROUGH THE SCREEN ON THE WASHER.#3 THE LADY WAS SMOKING CRACK WITH THE SNAKE CATCHER.#4 IT WAS A FRIGGIN PARTY BALLON. YUP, THATS RIGHT.

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(2)

J1 Plus B1

07:19 PMJul 20 2008

TRICK OR TREAT, APRIL FOOLS. SOMEBODY PLANTED IT. #1 THE SNAKE WOULD'NT SURVIVE MAINE CLIMATE.#2 WOULD'NT MAKE IT THROUGH THE SCREEN ON THE WASHER.#3 THE LADY WAS SMOKING CRACK WITH THE SNAKE CATCHER.#4 IT WAS A FRIGGIN PARTY BALLON. YUP, THATS RIGHT.

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(2)

Chrgrl197

12:28 PMJul 19 2008

its like a day later the phone rings and its the owner of the snake saying i want my snakethen the woman is like wat the@#@3%$#%&^* is your problem did you put you put it in my washer you little @#!^^#$&*% imgoing to @#$@#%&*^(*( track you down you #$#% #$%$$%%^ and you will repay me

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(6)

JackSherri

12:22 PMJul 19 2008

Are you forgetting that this farm house is not "new"? The plumbing is probably at least 50 years old. Pipes were wider than now (because pressure was less then) and few, if any, barriers for the snake. Thank you Melissam for setting the record straight. The python COULD HAVE gotten into the pipes.

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FNTCYFCTRY

07:36 AMJul 19 2008

Noo wayyy did thet snake get into the washer thru either the inlet or disscharge ports, both have Normally Closed solenoid valves, the inlet valve is 5/16", the size of a pencil, and on the disxharge, he would have to pass thru the centrifugal pump, while it is running!

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