A nine-year-old boy made a startling discovery in his grandmother’s backyard in Wekiwa Springs, Florida on Tuesday. Angelo Owens was on a mission to find lizards when he stumbled upon a venomous snake lurking behind a shed. The young nature enthusiast initially mistook the snake for a stuffed animal, but quickly realized his error when he saw its tongue move.
The snake in question was an Eastern Diamondback, a species native to Florida known for its venomous bite. Measuring a whopping four feet in length, the snake was nearly as tall as young Owens himself. Alarmed by the potentially dangerous encounter, Owens called for his family and even recorded a short TikTok video of the serpent.
Despite their efforts to find assistance, the family encountered difficulties in getting rid of the snake due to its venomous nature. Various services declined to remove it, citing the risks involved. Eventually, the family managed to get in touch with Bob Cross, a local trapper experienced in handling dangerous reptiles. Cross bravely retrieved the snake from the backyard, marveling at how it managed to infiltrate the property by crawling underneath the fence.
This wasn’t the first time Cross had dealt with such reptilian encounters. In previous interviews with FOX 35, he was captured on video with a python wrapped around his neck. However, he made sure to avoid direct contact with the rattlesnake in this particular instance. Owens’ grandmother, Anne McGrath, expressed her relief that no one was bitten, emphasizing the potential danger the snake posed.
Owens, on the other hand, viewed the encounter as an exciting tale to share. “It’s my first time seeing any type of rattlesnake,” he exclaimed. Meanwhile, Cross plans to transport the rattlesnake to the Reptile Discovery Center in DeLand, where the snake’s venom will be utilized in the production of anti-venom.
