Being Spooked by a Slippery Surprise
Imagine going about your regular grocery run, picking up broccoli, only to discover something that sends chills down your spine. That’s exactly what happened to Neville Linton, a 63-year-old man from the West Midlands of England. When he unzipped the bag of broccoli he bought from Aldi, he found himself face to face with a snake! As an ophidiophobic (someone with a fear of snakes), this was Linton’s worst nightmare come true.
A Tale of Courage and Quick Thinking
Thankfully, Linton’s relatives rushed to his aid and managed to take control of the snake before any harm was done. Linton’s sister, Ann-Marie Tenkanemin, immediately recognized the creature as a snake and together they safely transported it back to Aldi. Linton expressed his relief, stating, “It’s lucky I didn’t just leave the broccoli out in the kitchen, or it would have been loose in the house. That would have been a huge risk for us because we have two vulnerable people living here.”
The Impact on Fear and Family
Linton’s experience was not just alarming; it had the potential to be even more dangerous for his disabled son and mother-in-law. He believes that the compensation he received from Aldi was insufficient considering the potential risk to his family’s well-being. He expressed his concerns, stating, “The implications for us if it had [gotten] out in the house are huge. Plus, I’m phobic of snakes, so there’s the emotional impact of that, too.”
An Unusual Reptilian Encounter
So, what kind of snake was it exactly? According to expert opinions, it was initially identified as a juvenile ladder snake by a Dudley Zoo expert. However, herpetologist Dr. Steven J. R. Allain disagrees and asserts that it is, in fact, a harmless fish-eating species called a viperine water snake (Natrix maura). These snakes are found in southwestern Europe and northern Africa.
Demystifying the Fear
Here’s the reassuring news: neither the ladder snake nor the viperine water snake pose a significant threat to humans. They are not venomous and tend to avoid human interaction. In fact, they’re more interested in feasting on insects, birds, and even rodents. Dr. Allain hopes to dispel the fear surrounding these creatures, emphasizing their non-aggressive nature and their role in maintaining ecosystems.
Animal rescued from the cold looks like a hairless cat — you’ll never guess what it really is
Fur provides much-needed insulation from the cold, making it necessary for many animals.Besides, it makes them look different; there are some animals you would not even recognize when they are completely bald.
Rescuers have just brought in a more uncommon creature that resembles a hairless cat. Learn more about this unique species and her unlikely survival by reading on.
Hope for Wildlife, a nonprofit conservation organization in Nova Scotia, adopted the most bizarre animal last month. According to the Canadian Press, a couple in West Arichat discovered the animal in their property, suffering from the cold.
At first sight, the creature looks like a Sphynx cat, but it’s actually a completely hairless raccoon!
When their characteristic mask-like fur pattern is absent, raccoons are very hard to spot. This little creature is a northern raccoon, and it is completely bald due to severe alopecia.
The rescue said that while there have been cases of balding raccoons in the past, this one is unlike any other: “It’s just tufts of fur around the snout, ankles and feet.” Hope Swinimer, director of Hope for Wildlife, alerted the Canadian Press to the gravity of the issue.
The raccoon has been named Rufus in commemoration of the character from the Kim Possible cartoon who is a naked mole rat, even if it is a female.
The rescue said on Facebook that they are still trying to figure out why she is losing her hair, but they believe it could be an autoimmune disorder that is damaging her hair follicles. They found that her skin appeared healthy and ruled out parasites, fungal infections, and mange.
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