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Newark: Terror caused by a "passenger" on United Flight 2038

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As the plane from Tampa was taxiing to the gate after landing at the Newark Liberty International apt, screams rose from the business class because they had spotted a snake.

"Airport wildlife operations personnel and police department officers removed the garter snake and subsequently released it into the wild," the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in a statement.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2022/10/18/newark-airport-snake-united-flight/

Snakes, regardless of species, have an undeserved bad reputation among people.

The vast majority of snakes are harmless.  And those that are not would rather avoid than confront people.  Most rattlesnake, water moccasin and cotton mouth snakes in the US would rather avoid people than confront them.  Most bites occur when people try to pick them up or tease them.

I ran across several diamond back rattlesnakes while volunteering at the wildlife refuge.  Only one coiled up and reared up at me because I came upon hit and it had no path of retreat.  All the rest I saw were retreating except for one I inadvertently stepped over while stepping over a small bush it was hiding under. It slithered away as soon as I was clear of the bush.  That's when I noticed it.

Spiders also strike undeserved fear in people.  But the vast majority are harmless.  Don't tell Betty, but I know where a couple of black widows hide out in the garage.  They keep to themselves and are great fly catchers.

When conducting tours at the refuge I would let a tarantula crawl up my arm if we ever happen across one.  They are harmless but have a painful bite.  I've never been bitten.  I put my hand down in front of it.  Most of the time they just crawl across my hand and then I put my other hand out to walk across and back onto the ground.  But if I put my hand out inviting it to come one and it rears up then I leave it alone.

Noel

 

The tires are worn.  The shocks are shot.  The steering is wobbly.  But the engine still runs fine.

  • Author

Hi Noel,

I agree with you that snakes attack humans only if "disturbed" in their habitat, but there are not a few species of poisonous snakes to stay away with, for example, the black Mamba called "Seven Steps" because it is said that those who are bitten have an available seven steps before dying or the real Bruno terror of the Australian gold and opal prospectors as its venom is considered very dangerous and second after the Taipan species living in Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea and in particular with the one living in the hinterland which is considered the deadliest snake in the world approximately 7 times more venomous than a Mojave rattlesnake and 50 times more venomous than a common cobra.

Returning to the harmless and passing snake of this flight, one wonders how it ended up on this plane that I do not think makes stopovers on the places frequented by this snake.

 

ALL poisonous snakes are potentially dangerous and should be stayed away from.  But the vast majority are harmless and beneficial.  They keep the rodent population down.  Fear of snakes is probably cultural but once you get to know them the fear usually goes away.

I once brought a gopher snake home when my children were toddlers and let them play with it.  It was about 4 feet long and harmless.  I kept it in a box with a lid on it and only let it out for the kids to handle to remove their fear of snakes.  Then I brought it back out to the base and released it.

There were many poisonous snakes in Thailand but I never saw any.  The cobra and Russel Viper were the most common.  The Thais ran around bare legged and barefoot in the grass and jungle and I never heard of any getting bitten.  Once between two bomb storage revetments at Takhli I saw a bunch of our Thai laborers crowded around something.  It was a Burmese python about 25 feet long.

Noel

The tires are worn.  The shocks are shot.  The steering is wobbly.  But the engine still runs fine.

Personally, not looking to see any water moccasins.  But in Hawaii we are snake-free and aim to keep it that way.  Always a problem when the annual Christmas tree containers come in.  Also flights from Guam where the brown tree snake is a big problem.  Military is always inspecting any aircraft that arrive from Anderson AFB.  Maybe that needs to be added to GSX.

 

scott s.

.

 

 

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