When you think of Texas moms, you probably picture someone tough, busy, and ready for anything. Nicole Graham just took that image up a notch. After spotting a rat snake slithering across a chicken coop, she tracked it into her daughter’s SUV—where it had crawled under the hood and wrapped itself around the engine. Most people would call animal control. Nicole? She grabbed some gloves and went in.
Chicken Coop to Car Hood
The whole thing started like any other day on Graham’s Burton, Texas, property. She runs a small business from home, keeps chickens, and doesn’t shy away from the occasional backyard critter. But when she saw the rat snake near the coop, she kept her eyes on it—right until it disappeared into her daughter’s car.
Instead of panicking, Graham calmly lifted the hood and found the snake nestled in the engine bay. Without hesitation, she put on gloves, grabbed a long ruler, and reached in.
No Fear, Just Focus
What happened next was caught on video by her daughter. Graham is seen leaning over the car, both arms buried in the hood, pulling out what looks like nearly 1.5 meters (5 feet) of non-venomous snake. The snake flailed and twisted, but she kept her grip, eventually swinging it free and laying it on the grass like it was just another day in Texas.
“I’ve seen them before. You just have to be calm,” she told local news. “It wasn’t trying to bite me. It was just scared.”
Not Her First Snake Rodeo
Rat snakes, while non-venomous, can still deliver a painful bite and cause quite a scare. But Graham has experience handling animals around her property, and she knew exactly what she was dealing with.
Wildlife experts confirmed the snake was a Texas rat snake—a common species that helps control rodent populations but often finds its way into sheds, homes, and, apparently, SUVs. The snake was safely relocated, and both the car and the daughter were unharmed.
Internet Applauds Her Grit
The video of the removal went viral on social media, with viewers calling her “Texas tough,” “a real-life animal control unit,” and “mom of the year.” Several commenters said they would’ve sold the car or burned it rather than face a snake that size.
But for Graham, it was just another problem to solve before breakfast.
Some people pop the hood to check their oil. In Texas, you check for snakes—and if you’re Nicole Graham, you handle it yourself.
- Coatimundi Attacks Arizona Hiker in Rare Desert Confrontation - July 17, 2026
- Rabid Bat Bites Texas Man—Fourth Kerr County Case This Year - July 17, 2026
- Colorado’s Rattlesnake Den Livestreams 2,000 Snakes - July 15, 2026