Snake Eats Doorknob

By Zoe Cassell

HISS-TERICAL images show a six-foot snake with a huge round object stuck and protruding from its body after he swallowed a doorknob whole.

These shocking photographs and x-rays reveal a brass knob lodged in the Western Rat snake’s digestive track.

Others images show the creature on the operating table, following life-saving surgery.

The snake was bought to Creve Coeur Animal Hospital in Missouri, USA, by locals who were using the doorknob as a ‘dummy’ egg in their chicken coup.

Executive Director Kim Rutledge of the Wildlife Rescue Centre said: “Our Patient of the Year award was a western rat snake that swallowed a doorknob.

“The finders knew this wild snake lived around their home and would occasionally ‘employ’ him to catch rodents in their chicken coup. They had no idea that snakes eat eggs.

“They found him just as he was swallowing the doorknob and rushed him to our Centre which was about an hour away. By that time, the only way to remove it was surgically.
“Dr Moritz performed the tricky procedure beautifully.”

Affectionately named as ‘Doorknob’ by the medics who saved his life, he luckily made a full recovery and was safely returned to the wild.

“The western rat snake was in our care for several months. It was touch and go for a little bit while we determined if he could still digest his food,” Kim said.

“Thanks to a great team of staff and volunteers he fully recovered and was released back into his wild home.

“The finders were very happy to have him returned. They even let us keep the doorknob!”