4-Foot Snake Hides In Goodwill Store Books: Stafford Animal Control

STAFFORD, VA — A four-foot snake was found in books at a Goodwill store in Stafford, the sheriff said in a social media post with a "Harry Potter" flavor. An officer charmed the reptile and released it.

(See photo of the unwelcome guest below.)

"With the rise in temperatures recently, everyone is trying to beat the heat, even the local wildlife," a social media post said last week.

The snake — no species was specified but authorities said it was likely a local variety — was unearthed by an employee of Goodwill at 72 Doc Stone Road, in a box of donated books.

Captain J.A. Bice of Animal Control was nearby and "responded quicker than any Seeker could. Using his powers of persuasion, and a bit of Parseltongue," the cheeky post said, Bice safely removed the snake and released it back into the wild.

"No snakes, employees, or deputies were harmed during the incident," the agency said.