Escaped reptiles on I‑95: A close call with ecological chaos

The incident occurred near Wilson by Raleigh, North Carolina, on Interstate 95, which connects Miami with the Canadian border. According to American authorities, a lorry driver collided with the camper. Inside the camper, alongside five people, there was an array of animals: 28 snakes, five lizards, a pair of turtles, two dogs, and a cat.

Upon arrival at the scene, the police found snakes emerging from the camper. According to the authorities, the lorry driver either fell asleep or was distracted, leading to the collision. As a result of the incident, he suffered serious injuries and was taken to the hospital. Local media reported that 28 snakes, including venomous ones like pythons and rattlesnakes, slithered onto the street.

These animals were being transported to a show, and their owner, fulfilling an order for a company organising such displays, was also transporting bearded dragons and turtles. Although no animal was harmed in the accident, they scattered disoriented on the road.

Remarkably, they managed to capture all of them, even the venomous snake species. It might have been the low outdoor temperature that contributed to the cold-blooded reptiles not being too eager to escape.

The commitment of the authorities in capturing the escaped animals indicates that even seemingly harmless escapes of a few reptiles can turn into an ecological disaster with unpredictable consequences. An example is Florida's experience. More than 20 years ago, when a hurricane devastated the area, it also destroyed, among other things, the terrariums in a pet shop. The released Burmese pythons multiplied to such an extent that they eventually posed a serious threat to the local ecosystem.

In response, the Florida authorities allocate enormous sums of money to combat this invasive plague and attempt to control the snake population.