German Snake Survives Spin Cycle

Unpacking after vacation is never quite as pleasant as packing beforehand, with the excitement of the impending journey still in the air. And it usually involves doing multiple loads of laundry.

After returning from a trip to the Philippines last weekend, a family in Nuremberg was in for a bit of post-vacation excitement, however.

They began the usual unpack-laundry routine but on opening the door to the washing machine, they quickly left the world the everyday. A snake was in there curled up with the shirts and socks.

The greenish critter was only 20 centimeters long (under 8 inches) and didn't appear very dangerous. But, suspecting that the wriggling critter had smuggled himself along on the plane back to Germany, the family contacted officials to find out if it was venomous.

The washing machine survivor turned out to be just a harmless German garden snake.

Although the creature had just endured a thorough washing with the dirty shirts and underwear at 40 degree Celsius and been spun dry, it emerged in surprisingly good condition.

If it hasn't gone off to Hollywood to star in the new film "Snakes in the Washing Machine," then it is living happily at the local zoo in Nuremberg.