Slithering 4-foot snake surprises Bronx family

[June 03, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- A nearly 4-foot-long snake that eats rodents has been caught after crawling through a Bronx family's living room where it startled three children.

Police said Maria Dominguez called 911 at about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday and said that the yellow rat snake had sneaked into her family's fourth-floor apartment.

The 37-year-old flower shop worker said she doesn't know where the creature came from.

Police trapped it with a broom and a plastic bag, and it was taken to the Center for Animal Care and Control. Animal control spokesman Richard Gentles says the snake is non-venomous, and in good health.

Dominguez said her three children didn't want to come home from school after their morning run-in with the snake.

[Associated Press]

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