It starts with a strike. Faster than a human eye can actually track, a large constrictor—maybe a Reticulated Python or a Green Anaconda—latches on with rows of needle-sharp, rear-facing teeth. Then comes the coil. For a woman squeezed by snake or anyone caught in that grip, the sensation isn't just pressure. It’s a mechanical shutdown.
Most people think these snakes crush bones. They don't. That’s a myth that’s been floating around for decades, probably because it sounds scarier in movies. In reality, a constrictor is a precision instrument. It doesn't want to break your ribs; it wants to stop your heart.
I’ve spent years looking at herpetological data and talking to keepers who have had "close calls." The physics involved is terrifyingly simple. When a snake coils around its prey, it monitors the heartbeat. Every time the victim exhales, the snake takes up the slack. It gets tighter. And tighter. Until the blood just stops moving.
The Science of the Squeeze: It’s Not About Suffocation
We used to believe that death by constriction was a slow process of asphyxiation. We thought the animal just waited for the prey to run out of breath. We were wrong.
In 2015, Dr. Scott Boback and a team of researchers at Dickinson College published a study in The Journal of Experimental Biology that flipped the script. They used rats with blood pressure sensors and ECG electrodes. What they found was that constriction is actually a "hemodynamic" event.
Basically, the pressure is so high that it shuts down the circulatory system. Blood can't get to the brain. The heart can't pump against the external pressure. It’s "circulatory arrest." This is much faster than suffocation. In the Dickinson study, the rats' blood pressure plummeted and their heart rhythms went haywire within seconds.
Why Size Matters (And Why It Doesn't)
You don't need a 20-foot monster to be in danger. Even a 10-foot Burmese Python has enough muscle mass to overpower an average-sized adult if it gets a coil around the neck or chest.
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- Muscle Density: Snakes are almost entirely muscle and bone.
- The Anchor: They use their tail to "anchor" themselves, giving them leverage to pull the coils tighter.
- Sensory Feedback: They can feel your pulse. They know exactly how hard to squeeze.
It’s an incredibly efficient way to kill. Honestly, it's a bit clinical. There's no waste of energy. Once the heart stops, the snake relaxes.
Real Life Incidents: When the Nightmare Becomes Reality
We see these stories pop up in the news every few years. Usually, it’s a captive pet situation gone wrong. In 2024, a woman in Indonesia made international headlines after a 16-foot python was found to have swallowed her whole. While that is an extreme and rare "predatory" event, most "woman squeezed by snake" incidents are defensive or accidental.
Take the case of a woman in Thailand who was recently filmed being rescued by police after a python coiled around her for over two hours. She was washing dishes. The snake struck, coiled, and she couldn't break the grip. She survived because she managed to call out and help arrived before the "arrest" became permanent.
Most people panic. That’s the worst thing you can do. Panic increases heart rate. A faster heart rate tells the snake that the prey is still very much alive and kicking, which prompts it to squeeze harder.
Common Misconceptions About Snake Behavior
- They "measure" you: You’ve heard the urban legend about the snake lying straight next to its owner to see if they’ll fit. It's fake. Totally made up. Snakes don't plan meals like they're at a tailor.
- They’re "slimy": They’re actually dry and smooth. The "squeezing" feels more like a heavy, moving rubber tube than anything wet.
- You can just "unwind" them: Good luck. A large snake's strength is concentrated. If you pull at the middle of the coil, you’re fighting the strongest part of the animal.
How to Survive a Constriction Attempt
If you find yourself or someone else in this position, you have to be smart. Brute force usually fails.
Find the Tail.
The tail is the snake's weakest point. If you can find the very end of the snake and begin uncoiling from there, you are fighting the least amount of muscle. It’s like finding the end of a roll of tape. You work backwards.
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Alcohol or Irritants.
Snake keepers often keep a small bottle of high-proof alcohol or even hand sanitizer nearby. If a snake latches on, pouring alcohol into its mouth or near its heat pits usually causes an immediate release. They hate the taste and the sting. It’s much more effective than trying to pry the jaws open, which usually just results in more tissue damage for the human because of those hooked teeth.
The "Two-Person" Rule.
Anyone who keeps large constrictors (over 8 feet) should never handle them alone. Period. It takes two people to safely move or manage a large python or boa because if one person gets caught, the second person is the "unwinder."
The Medical Aftermath
If someone is squeezed and survives, the danger isn't over.
- Crush Syndrome: When muscle tissue is compressed for a long time, it releases toxins into the bloodstream. Once the pressure is released, those toxins hit the kidneys. It can be fatal.
- Internal Bruising: The pressure can rupture small vessels and damage organs without breaking the skin.
- Infection: Snake teeth are dirty. A bite accompanying the squeeze needs serious antibiotics.
The Ethics of Large Constrictors as Pets
The hobby is controversial. Burmese Pythons, Reticulated Pythons, and various Anacondas are beautiful, sentient animals. But they are apex predators.
In the United States, the Lacey Act has historically regulated the transport of "injurious species." Florida has even stricter laws now because of the invasive python population in the Everglades. When we talk about a woman squeezed by snake, we are often talking about a failure of husbandry or a lack of respect for the animal's power.
These aren't dogs. They don't have "affection" in the way we understand it. They have associations. They associate you with food or they associate you with a threat. If you smell like a rabbit because you just fed your other pets, you’re a target. It’s not "malice." It’s biology.
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What Should You Actually Do?
If you're reading this because you're considering a large snake, or you live in an area where they are native, here is the reality check:
Don't handle alone. This is the golden rule. If the snake is longer than you are, you need a backup.
Know the "S-Curve." If a snake is pulled back into an S-shape, it's ready to strike. It's a loaded spring. For a woman or man working around these animals, recognizing this body language is the difference between a cool photo and a 911 call.
Secure the Enclosure. Most "squeezing" incidents happen when a snake escapes and the owner finds it in a cramped space (like behind a fridge). The snake is stressed, cold, and defensive. That’s a recipe for a strike-and-coil.
Actionable Steps for Snake Safety
If you encounter a large snake in the wild or in a home:
- Maintain Distance: A snake can strike at a distance of about one-third to one-half of its body length. Stay back.
- Don't Grab the Neck: This is a TV move. Grabbing a large snake by the neck often triggers a defensive coil response. They will wrap around your arm or neck instantly to stabilize themselves.
- Use a Barrier: If you have to move a snake, use a hook or a long broom to redirect its head.
- Keep Cold Water Handy: For pet owners, a spray of ice-cold water can sometimes shock a snake into letting go, though alcohol is more reliable.
- Seek Immediate Medical Help: Even if the person looks fine after being squeezed, "internal" issues like the aforementioned crush syndrome can take hours to manifest.
Constriction is a fascinating, albeit gruesome, biological marvel. It's a testament to millions of years of evolutionary engineering. But for the human on the receiving end, it’s a race against physics. Understanding that it’s a blood-flow issue—not a breathing issue—is the first step in knowing how to react. Stay calm, find the tail, and never underestimate the power of a creature that is essentially one long, sentient muscle.
Always respect the animal's space. Most bites and "squeezes" are entirely preventable with basic safety protocols and a healthy dose of reality regarding what these predators are capable of doing when they feel threatened or hungry.