A young two-headed Eastern Copperhead was found in Northern Virginia. The finder emailed the Virginia Herpetological Society for identification; DGIF was then alerted and the state herpetologist picked up the snake. This week, he brought it to the Wildlife Center for radiographs. Dr. Ernesto [who is a big fan of venomous snakes] examined the baby copperhead. It appears as though the left head is more dominant – it’s generally more active and responsive to stimulus. Radiographs revealed that the two-headed snake has two tracheas [the left one is more developed], two esophaguses [the right one is more developed], and the two heads share one heart and one set of lungs. Based on the anatomy, it would be better for the right head to eat, but it may be a challenge since the left head appears more dominant. Wild two-headed snakes are extremely rare – they just don’t live that long. The herpetologist will continue monitoring the snake; if it survives, it will likely be placed in an educational facility. Please note: This snake is not currently at the Wildlife Center of Virginia; it's in the care of the state herpetologist.
"They told me I better not get in my car," said car owner Katie Hauer Two men pulled an 8-foot-long boa constrictor from beneath a car parked outside of a northeastern Pennsylvania medical building. The Citizens' Voice in Wilkes-Barre reports the men pried the snake from a Mercury Mountaineer's undercarriage Thursday afternoon after one saw it wriggle underneath. One of the men, herpetologist Cameron English, identified the snake as a red-tailed boa constrictor. "They told me I better not get in my car," said owner Katie Hauer, who had been inside the Geisinger Kingston medical center in Kingston borough. Hauer said she was told she may have transported the snake from where she lives to the medical building. "I'm going to be checking under my car and around my car every single day now," Hauer said. Rescuers said the snake appeared to be a well-fed pet. It was placed in a plastic container. No one was injured and it wasn't immediately known who owns the snake.
