Mystery solved: Weird snake is actually long invasive worm

Virginia Wildlife Management and Control recently had a mystery on its hands.

Usually, the department is the place to go when people want to know what snake they may have stumbled across is.

But one submission to the snake identification hotline left the experts stumped.

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A person submitted a photo of what they thought was a snake with a head that was moon-shaped.

Officials said they had never seen anything like it before. It was found in Midlothian, Virginia, and measured between 10 and 12 inches long.

Facebook came through, saying that it wasn’t a snake at all but instead a hammerhead worm.

According to the University of Florida, the family of worms these are from can be carnivorous and active predators.

There are more than 830 known species that usually are found in tropical forests where there is enough food and moisture, but international plant trade has brought the invasive species to the U.S., the university said.

>> Related: Virginia wildlife officials issue warning after multiple sightings of venomous caterpillar

So how do you get rid of them?

The Texas Invasive Species Institute suggests using orange essence or salt.

Cutting them in half may not be an option as the worms can regenerate. That’s how they reproduce, according to the TISI. A small part of the end of the worm will drop off and stay behind and within days, a new head begins to form.

Cox Media Group