Mystery snake found in Mississauga car engine now available for adoption

A trip to the mechanic took an unexpected turn when a live python was discovered hiding inside a vehicle’s engine compartment in Mississauga…and no one is quite sure how it got there.

Mississauga Animal Services says officers were called on July 13 after a resident sought help for an issue with their vehicle. Instead of finding a mechanical problem, a mechanic spotted a snake tucked beneath the hood.

When animal services officers arrived, the rescue unfolded with surprising ease. One officer reached into the engine compartment and, to everyone’s amazement, the python calmly slithered onto the officer’s arm, allowing it to be removed safely.

The snake was dehydrated and had a few minor scratches, but is now recovering at the Mississauga Animal Shelter, where staff are caring for it while searching for a permanent home.

Exactly how the python ended up inside the vehicle remains unknown.

The reptile is believed to be a ball python, the species most commonly kept as a pet in Canada. Native to West and Central Africa, ball pythons are not found naturally in Ontario, meaning the snake almost certainly escaped from a home or was abandoned. During the summer, a recently driven vehicle can provide the warmth and shelter the snakes instinctively seek, making an engine compartment an ideal hiding spot.

Despite their intimidating appearance, ball pythons are considered one of the gentlest snake species and are not venomous. They rarely bite unless they feel threatened or are handled improperly. Instead, they kill prey by constriction — a behaviour used to catch small rodents in the wild — but they pose little danger to people and are popular pets because of their generally calm temperament.

Mississauga Animal Services said unusual rescues like this highlight the wide variety of calls officers respond to, from dogs and cats to exotic animals.

Anyone interested in adopting the well-travelled python can contact the Mississauga Animal Shelter for more information.