Firefighters answer unusual requ

LENOIR CITY, Tenn. (WATE) — Firefighters in Lenoir City responded to an unusual call for help Friday, when construction workers found a scaled visitor in their worksite.

The Lenoir City Fire Department said the construction workers ran into station two “screaming for help.” Despite initially thinking the worst, firefighters stepped in to save them from the “wild beast.”

LCFD shared photos of the aftermath of the call. In the photos, Captain Kevin Abercrombie holds the unwelcome visitor: a medium sized snake. Although the snake was not identified, it does not have the tell-tale sign of the venomous species that can be found in East Tennessee.

The fire department responded to one commenter, who was concerned for the snake’s wellbeing, sharing that the snake was set free to “go eat all the mice he can stand. Just not near the construction guys.”

While slithering reptiles can be underappreciated and sometimes feared, they play an important role in the ecosystem. According to the National Park Service, snakes help control insect and rodent populations while also being a potential meal for birds and mammals.