Giant Python Jodie Beats Cancer in Medical First
A 15-foot reticulated python named Jodie Foster has made an impressive recovery after undergoing an unusual cancer treatment. The 50kg snake had developed a malignant tumour in her jaw. After…
‘More than 100 million years of evolution’: How snakes evolved and lost their legs
When dinosaurs still ruled the planet, early mammals were small, cautious creatures that often sheltered underground. Those burrows may have created an important opportunity for another group of animals: early…
These snakes steal poison from their prey—here’s how they know they have enough
Red-necked keelback snakes carry a powerful toxin — strong enough to blind a mongoose and stop its heart within minutes. But there’s a twist: they don’t produce this poison themselves.…
Guy Goes To Fix Trail Camera — And Almost Ends Up In ER With A Rare Bite
“If I had reached for that latch without looking …” When Frank Fleming checked one of his trail cameras on his property in Costa Rica, he thought he was dealing…
Woman Goes To Take A Shower — And Spots A Tiny Face Watching Her From Above
One Australian homeowner got quite a surprise when she stepped into her bathroom the other day. Just as she was about to hop in the shower, she felt an eerie…
Man Hears Faint Ticking Sound And Finds 32 Animals Sleeping Under A Tarp
There were way more than he expected. As a rescuer with Hill Country Snake Removal, a humane wildlife relocation service based in New Braunfels, Texas, Brett Parker is well-versed in…
Woman Finds Someone Dangerous Wrapped Around Toaster And Makes Unexpected Choice
At first she didn’t mind … but the visitor wasn’t moving. When a woman in Australia entered a shed on her property last month, she immediately noticed something unusual blocking…
Shelter appeals for reptile fans to rehome snakes
An animal shelter is appealing to reptile lovers to help find new homes for six snakes currently in its care — including Ivy, a ball python who has spent almost…
Scientists could soon create a ‘universal antivenom.’ But would it save lives?
A recent study hints that we could make a universal antivenom for snakebites, but some scientists say we need something else instead. Topping this week’s headlines was the passing of…
Why do snakes shed their skin?
It’s a story that involves scales, sloughs — and spectacles. Snakes are some of the few creatures capable of shedding their skin, a process known as “ecdysis.” Throughout their life,…