Two toddlers and one very long uninvited guest made for a tense scene at a Polk County Airbnb, where deputies say a 7- to 8-foot snake turned up in the garage during a family stay. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Nunez stepped between the reptile and the children, then removed the snake without anyone getting hurt.
Sheriff Grady Judd later shared the call on X, joking that most viewers would respond with a hard “nope” to that kind of surprise. He added that the only complaint about the incident was that nobody managed to snap a photo of the massive visitor before it was hauled away.
In the recording, the caller reportedly describes the snake as red or red-striped and estimates it at about 7 to 8 feet long. The sheriff’s post notes that the children inside the rental were roughly 1.5 and 2.5 years old. Deputy Nunez is credited with both removing the snake from the garage and keeping the toddlers protected until it was safely taken away.
Why Big Snakes Keep Turning Up In Florida Neighborhoods
Large constrictors remain a recurring problem in Florida, where officials say finding them in the first place is often tougher than removing them. As reported by The Associated Press, more than 23,000 Burmese pythons have been taken out of the state since 2000, and agencies are now experimenting with robotic “rabbit” lures and other detection tools to help spot snakes that blend into the landscape.
What To Do If You Find A Snake
If you come across a large snake at a home or rental, experts say the priority is to move people, especially children, away from the animal and call trained professionals instead of trying to handle it yourself. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises reporting sightings through its Wildlife Alert system by calling 888-404-FWCC or submitting a tip online through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The sheriff’s post praised Deputy Nunez for keeping the toddlers safe while dealing with the snake, and the incident is a reminder that these run-ins can happen almost anywhere in the state. Similar calls have popped up around Florida, including one case in March when FOX 13 reported that guests in Punta Gorda discovered a snake inside an Airbnb bed.
