‘Anyone missing a cat?’ Bloated rattlesnake at NM school has people asking questions

Mark Price
·1 min read

A very bloated rattlesnake was captured at a New Mexico elementary school this week, leading to ongoing speculation over what the heck it had just eaten.

School staff found the “chunky” snake Monday, and trapped it under a trashcan until reptile experts could safely remove it, according to the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department. The name of the school was not released

“It looks like someone ate a BIG breakfast!” the agency wrote in a Facebook post.

Video shared on Facebook shows the snake was so tubby, it teetered rather than slithered when released safely into a wilderness area.

“I don’t think he could get at us if he tried,” someone is heard saying in the video.

Commenters on the post quickly began speculating what the snake ate to look so miserable, including some who called it a “piglet.” Some suggested it swallowed a prairie dog, while others suspected it was a large rabbit or bird.

“It was at a school, did anyone take (roll) call in the kindergarten class?” Temujin Childers posted on Facebook.

“Anyone missing a cat?” Brandon Broemmer asked.

“Looks like she’s pregnant,” Saul Duarte suggested.

City officials didn’t offer details on the species, but photos appeared to show a western diamondback rattlesnake. They can reach 7 feet in length and live 20 years, according to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

New Mexico is home to eight venomous snakes, seven of which are different species of rattlesnakes, New Mexico State University reports.

Western diamondbacks are known to eat “mice, rats, rabbits, gophers, ground dwelling birds, lizards and other small animals,” the museum says.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Remembering Matthew Kechter | Columbine 25 years

    In honor of the victims of Columbine on the occasion of 25 years since the tragedy, these are the inscriptions on each plaque provided by the Columbine Memorial Foundation. This is Matthew Kechter’s tribute.

  • The stock market can rise another 13% this year even with a dwindling rate-cut outlook, Fundstrat's Tom Lee says

    The S&P 500 could end the year at 5,700 even if the outlook for Fed rate cuts doesn't brighten, Fundstrat's Tom Lee says.

  • Des Moines police identify woman allegedly killed by domestic partner

    Des Moines police identify woman allegedly killed by domestic partner

  • First baby bison of the season born at Pawnee Bill Ranch

    First baby bison of the season born at Pawnee Bill Ranch

  • Artwork stolen in 2021 shows up 300 kilometres away

    More than two years after hundreds of pieces of art were stolen from an Osoyoos, B.C., artist, a thrift store about 300 kilometres away found some that had been included in a donation. In late 2021, Gabriele Beyer's home was broken into. She says thieves stole hundreds of silk ties and 46 paintings — and Beyer says the loss was a big hit to her livelihood."It was a mystery when the break-in happened," she told The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn. "I was in total shock for about six weeks."In th

  • How UAW, Volkswagen vote could give unions 'leverage'

    The United Auto Workers (UAW) is seeking to expand its unionization efforts beyond the Detroit Big 3 automakers (STLA, GM, F). Workers at Volkswagen's (VOW.DE) plant in Tennessee are voting on unionization, a pivotal moment for the labor organization. Cornell University's Director of Labor Relations, Arthur Wheaton, provides insights into the significance of this development. Wheaton notes that the Volkswagen vote is crucial because if the UAW can increase the number of unionized autoworkers in the United States, "it gives them more leverage at the bargaining table." When asked about the potential impact of the Volkswagen vote on the spread of unionization to other automakers, Wheaton acknowledges that "the reality is it's going to take a lot more work" — cautioning against the expectation that "all of the other plants will immediately get majority people to say yes we want the Union." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Yahoo Finance. This post was written by Angel Smith

  • Person taken to hospital after being pinned during rollover crash on I-35

    Person taken to hospital after being pinned during rollover crash on I-35

  • British actress Sophie Rundle expecting ‘baby number two’

    Rundle said she had forgotten who she had and had not told about the pregnancy.

  • Lightning celebrate neurodiversity with new sensory room

    Lightning head coach Jon Cooper summed up why he loves it when the playoffs come around. "The emotional investment you get from the players, especially in that first round. What I consider the most exciting round in playoffs in any sport is that first round. It’s emotional chaos," he said after the regular season finale against Toronto. Sometimes that chaos can be a little overwhelming for fans who are sensitive to too much light and booming noise, which are common at every Lightning home game.

  • Concerns about day care loom large in wake of YMCA closure announcement

    When YMCA officials announced on Tuesday that local operations will cease as of May 15, they made sure to mention that day care is one of the services they are hoping to keep alive. The Sault Ste. Marie YMCA offers 541 licensed day care spots across the city, with 140 of those spots being situated at the organization's recreation centre on 235 McNabb St. But now that this building is up for sale, Danica Boissoneau doesn't know what that means for her 18-month-old daughter, who just got enrolled

  • British BMX Olympians training in US for Paris Games

    Elite athletes from Great Britain's Olympic BMX team are in the U.S. for training ahead of the 2024 Paris Games. Jamie Bestwick's passion for BMX started when he was just 10 years old. Initially, it was a means of getting around his neighborhood, but he quickly realized the sport's potential. Now, decades later, with more than a dozen X-Tams gold medals to his name, he is coaching the British Olympic team. He brought his team to an action sports camp in Woodward, Pennsylvania, near State College.

  • Remembering Lauren Townsend | Columbine 25 years

    In honor of the victims of Columbine on the occasion of 25 years since the tragedy, these are the inscriptions on each plaque provided by the Columbine Memorial Foundation. This is Lauren Townsend’s tribute

  • St. Pete leaders launch new program to include residents in decision-making

    The City of St. Petersburg is trying to get residents more involved in decision-making. City leaders have one million dollars available for an Innovative Equity Project. The options to invest in for the Innovative Equity Project Initiative include: roof replacement, youth crime prevention, swim safety, volunteerism, and utility assistance.

  • Jasper and the rest of Canada had warmest winter on record

    If you thought that we just had a pretty mild winter, then you were right. This past winter was the warmest in Canada since record keeping began, said Alysa Pederson, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. “We talk about climate change a lot, but a big part of this year and this winter, was [that] we were also in a very strong El Niño,” Pederson said. “That's what we would expect of El Niño. And then, of course, this year was a relatively strong one. We expected it to be warme

  • Louis Gossett Jr.'s cause of death revealed

    Louis Gossett Jr.'s official cause of death has been revealed just days after it had been announced that he had passed away at the age of 87.

  • Paris Hilton: 'Motherhood means more to me than fame and fortune ever could!'

    Paris Hilton had always dreamed of having a little girl called London as she admits that motherhood means more to her than fame and fortune ever could.

  • Michael Douglas reveals what he and Catherine Zeta-Jones do on Fridays: 'She makes me look good!'

    Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones spend their Friday nights dancing together although he finds it a bit "intimidating" because she is such an accomplished mover.

  • Strange celestial phenomenon: Atmosphere turns half white

    Residents of the Philippine island of Mindanao filmed a strange sight at the end of March. One half of the sky appeared white, the other blue. There was an optical phenomenon behind the two-tone appearance.

  • Jodie Foster was 'always interested' in life away from Hollywood stardom

    Jodie Foster admits she was "always interested" in having a normal life after finding fame as a child and going on to an Oscar-winning career as an adult.

  • Olympic torch makes Acropolis overnight stop a week before handover to Paris organizers

    ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The flame that will burn at the Olympics is spending the night at the ancient Acropolis in Athens, a week before its handover to Paris 2024 organizers. During a lull in heavy rain late Friday, a torchbearer lit a cauldron in front of the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple, on the citadel that dominates the Athens skyline and is Greece’s top tourist draw. The flame will stay there until Saturday morning, when the champagne-colored torch travels to Delphi, an important ancient G