West Allis residents Windy Tuck and her husband experienced an unexpected surprise on Labor Day weekend when they opened the hood of their Oldsmobile and found a four‑foot boa constrictor curled across the engine. “We thought maybe a hose was thrown up there,” Tuck said, adding that a closer look revealed the massive snake.
Rescue response
After the discovery, Tuck promptly contacted the West Allis police department, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC). The agency dispatched a crew that included reptile‑rescue specialist Cindy Steinle of Small Scale Reptile Rescue.
Steinle explained that a call about a boa in a car is a rarity in Wisconsin, noting, “You don’t get a call for a boa in a car in Wisconsin. That’s more Florida speed.” The rescue team located the snake beneath the engine and coaxed it out through the wheel well. “I basically was tickling it, annoying it,” Steinle recalled.
Snake’s condition and future
Holding the boa bare‑handed, Steinle observed that the reptile appeared healthy despite the cramped space. Tuck, who is 5’5″, remarked, “It was almost the size of me, almost the size of me.” The snake was later transferred to MADACC, where it will remain until an owner comes forward.
Steinle estimated the boa had not been outdoors since at least April, given Wisconsin’s cold winter temperatures. She suggested the animal may have escaped from a private enclosure or been released by its owner. “Snakes belong in secure cages, not aquariums. If you have a reptile pet, this snake could have popped a cage, gotten out the screen, and wound up in the wind,” she warned.
Owner claim period
The rescue organization has given the snake’s owner four days to claim it. If no claim is made, Steinle plans to prepare the boa for adoption through her rescue network, ensuring the animal finds a responsible caretaker.
For the Tucks, the incident ended on a positive note. “I’m glad he’s alive. I’m glad he was safe. But I’m glad he’s not here,” Tuck said, relieved that the unexpected visitor was safely removed.
Community safety reminder
Local officials encourage residents who keep exotic pets to maintain secure enclosures and to report any escaped animals promptly. Prompt reporting helps protect both the public and the animals, ensuring swift, humane resolutions to unusual situations like this one.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
