Snakes in your car: Is it a real thing?

Social media can be a great place to connect, learn, explore, and get creative – but it can also be a source of nightmare fuel, as evidenced by the woman who posted pictures of a snake crawling out of her car’s A/C vent while she was driving. Can snakes really get into your HVAC system and slither into the cabin of your car? What should you do if you’re in this situation? Toyota of Clermont is here to explain the facts behind snakes in your car and how to handle this scary scenario.

Can you really get snakes in your car? Toyota of Clermont is here to explain.

Unfortunately, snakes in your car are a real possibility (sorry). This is especially true in Florida, where we have a decently sized snake population and lots of new construction that’s ousting them from their homes. Snakes seem to have a certain affinity for your Clermont Toyota’s engine compartment in particular, and here’s why:

• Snakes prefer to hide in dark, warm places. They’re cold-blooded, so they have to seek warmth from external sources (like a nice, warm engine). Plus, your engine compartment is a safe place to hide out from predators – not only are there lots of nooks and crannies to take cover in, it also provides the snake a great advantage in that they can strike before a predator can reach them.
• On top of that, your car’s engine bay is easy to reach. It’s open to the ground and easy access for a snake who happens to be slithering underneath and looks up.

So yup, you can get snakes in your car… at least in the engine compartment. However, it’s rare for them to get inside the cabin of your Clermont Toyota. Your car’s cabin is pretty much sealed off from the outside except for the doors and windows. So if you keep them closed when you’re not in the vehicle, you should be good to go. And yes, you need to keep the windows closed – snakes are great climbers and can scale the side of your car to plop in the open window faster than you’d think.

But what about the A/C system, like the lady who had a snake crawl out of a vent? This is super uncommon. Your HVAC system is sealed from the outside, so nothing can get in through it. What’s more likely is that a snake found its way into the woman’s car and slipped into the A/C vent, hanging out there until she turned the air on and forced it out.

OK, so what do you do if you get a snake in your car? Here are a few Clermont Toyota tips:

• Don’t try to grab it with your hands. Remember, the snake has an advantage and can likely strike and bite you before you can get it. Instead, use a long pole, broom, etc. to try and remove it from your car.
• If you can’t get it (or can’t stomach getting it), call animal control or wildlife services to help you.
• Don’t just leave it in the engine compartment and hope it finds its way out. Snakes can get wrapped up in moving belts and also cause electrical fires, so it definitely needs to be removed.

We’ve got answers to all of your car care questions!

Still have questions or want advice on car care in general? Call Toyota of Clermont today at (352) 404-7001. We’re open seven days a week and conveniently located at 16851 State Road 50, just west of the Florida Turnpike!

Posted in Clermont Toyota Tips | No Comments »