In a incident that unfolded in the quiet town of Silsbee, Texas, a Texas woman found herself at the center of an unexpected and slightly bizarre wildlife encounter.
Peggy Jones, a 64-year-old resident, was going about her routine task of mowing her lawn when nature decided to deliver a double surprise: a hawk dropping a snake right onto her.
Full-Story: Woman Attacked By Snake & Hawk
It was a warm July day when this unusual event occurred, leaving Jones startled and injured. As she recounted the incident to CBS News, the unexpected assault began with a wriggling snake falling from the sky and landing on her. As she attempted to free herself from the snake’s grip, the situation escalated dramatically.
The hawk, recognizing the snake as its potential prey, swooped down to reclaim its meal. What ensued was a struggle that, while astonishing, left Jones with cuts, bruises, and puncture wounds. The snake, determined to defend itself, coiled around Jones’ arm and began striking her face. Meanwhile, the hawk, intent on recovering its unintended drop, fiercely targeted Jones with its talons.
Describing the incident to BBC‘s US partner CBS, Jones mentioned, “The snake was striking in my face, it struck my glasses a couple of times… I was slinging and slinging, he was striking and striking, and he just kept hanging on. Then the hawk appeared just as fast as the snake appeared. The hawk grabbed the snake that was wrapped around my arm and pulled it like he was going to carry it away. And when he did, it flung my arm up. The hawk was carrying my arm and the snake with it.”
The hawk’s efforts to snatch back its prey resulted in repeated stabs with its sharp talons, causing further distress and injury to Jones.
While living in rural Texas has acquainted Jones with various wildlife encounters, this particular incident was truly unique. As she explained, hawks are known to pick up and devour snakes as part of their predatory behavior. However, witnessing a hawk drop a snake onto a human and engage in a tug-of-war for its meal is an incredibly rare occurrence.
Jones’ injuries were significant, with puncture wounds, cuts, abrasions, scratches, and severe bruising, particularly on her arm and face. Even her glasses bore the marks of the snake’s strikes. The ordeal left her traumatized, struggling with sleep, and contemplating the unpredictability of nature.
As a resident of an area where wildlife encounters are not entirely uncommon, Jones acknowledges the natural behavior of hawks hunting snakes. However, this peculiar incident has left an indelible impression on her.
In the aftermath of this unique encounter, Peggy Jones has a newfound appreciation for hawks and snakes and comes out in the end with a story that she will undoubtedly share for years to come.