Georgia Snake Catcher Stumbles Upon Rarest Snake in the State - AZ Animals

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Anyone who enjoys the great outdoors and has an affinity for wildlife can point to a moment when they stood in awe at something magnificent. Some moments are more awe-inspiring than others and in the case of two men in Georgia, they were not just lucky enough to have those thrilling moments, but they also managed to document them to share with the world.

The first is the Georgia snake catcher who happened upon the rarest snake in Georgia. He had almost given up his search for the day when he spotted it. Immediately, his energy went through the roof as he beheld a sight he had been yearning for throughout his entire life.

The second Georgia man came across another type of rarity. It wasn't so much the type of snake but how big it had grown. It's not often these types of snakes grow to that impressive size and the second man managed to get a photo of himself holding the marvel. Luckily, in both these instances, the snakes played nice, despite both men treating them as if they were the ultimate celebrities!

Meet a Northern Pine Snake in Georgia

Everyone has a passion — some express it quietly, perhaps with writing or drawing. Others can't contain their excitement when they've discovered something they love, especially if it's a rarity they've been searching for. In this clip, Christian Cave on TikTok comes across the rarest snake in Georgia. He's a wildlife enthusiast and even if you're not a fan of snakes, his energy is contagious.

The video starts off with subtitles that explain he and his team almost went home because of the weather. However, he's already screaming with excitement at the start of the video. The person filming quickly exits the vehicle and you see Christian Cave with his hands grasping the sides of his head, in complete amazement. He falls to his knees on the sand, his eyes focused on something off to the right.

Then he addresses the camera, "Guys! My first ever Pituophis melanoleucas!" In layman's terms, a northern pine snake. The snake, as if appalled by his shrieking, starts slithering away but he reaches out to grab it before it can get too far. "Slow down, mate," he says, before going on to say, "This is the snake I've been looking for my entire life!"

This is an incredibly elusive snake, having earned the nickname "ghost of the sandhills." Christian Cave continues explaining how rare it is to spot this snake as he holds it with both hands. It wriggles about on his forearm as he explains that it's a non-venomous snake. He is so excited he is nearly hyperventilating throughout the video. However, he manages to offer a thorough explanation of this snake, showing it off throughout the video.

Northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucas)
Northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucas) is an elusive snake that has earned the nickname "ghost of the sandhills."

©Jay Ondreicka/Shutterstock.com

Meet an Indigo Snake in Georgia

It's certainly an eventful year for wildlife enthusiasts in Georgia. In October, wildlife biologist, Dee Mincey, found an indigo snake in Fort Stewart, GA. Not just any indigo snake, either — this one measured seven feet, seven inches. A whopping 2.5 feet longer than the average indigo found in the area.

The snake made headlines, as did Mincey's Facebook photo where he's holding the incredibly long snake. Indigo snakes are known for their remarkable lengths, but even with that knowledge, this one was something to wonder at. These snakes, like the northern pine snake, are non-venomous. However, that doesn't mean they don't bite!

If threatened, indigo snakes won't hesitate to defend themselves. They may even release an awful-smelling musk. They are, however, known for being quite aggressive with their prey. They chase prey like rodents down but here's a fun fact — they even go for venomous snakes like rattlesnakes and copperheads! Biologists believe they may actually be immune to their venom.

Indigo snakes will defend themselves
Indigo snakes, though non-venomous, won't hesitate to defend themselves.

©Patrick K. Campbell/Shutterstock.com

Although this one was discovered in Georgia, indigo snakes also inhabit other states, including Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. If you spot one, it is likely to avoid you first. They can be helpful in human-inhabited environments because they serve as pest control. However, if you're not well-versed with snakes and you spot one of these out on your hike, you may just naturally run for the hills! We don't blame you.

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