What to Know
- Black rat snakes are not venomous
- They will attack if threatened by a predator, but prefer to avoid confrontation
- The reptiles can grow to up to 6 feet
A 4-foot-long snake gave a Queens business owner and his wife a scare Tuesday, but no one was hurt.
Tony Lin and his wife were working on shipment orders at the import/export business in Woodside when they saw a long snake slither through the office.
One worker said the scaly sight triggered screams.
Lin imports products from China; it's not clear if the snake was a stowaway or a New York native. According to the Wildlife Conservation Society, the reptile is a black rat snake, which is not venomous but will attack if threatened.
Black rat snakes, which grow up to 6 feet, are found from New England south through Florida, west through Texas and north again to southern Wisconsin, according to the National Zoo. They eat mostly rodents and kill their prey by constriction.
Rat snakes are known for producing a foul-smelling musk they release on potential predators if picked up. They prefer to avoid confrontation.
Local
Police removed the uninvited guest from Lin's office without incident.
