JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Imagine preparing to get in your car and seeing a snake stretched out along the dashboard of the car.

That's exactly what happened to a local college student Tuesday night.

Hours later, an animal trapper removed a red rat snake from Brianna Young's rental car at her downtown apartment.

Young said she had just gotten into the rental car, and when she turned to the front there was a 3 1/2-foot snake on the dashboard.

Young said she discovered the snake after getting dropped off from a local Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

"I was scared," she said. "I just hopped out and was like, 'Oh my God,' and just stood behind the car."

Young said she immediately called Enterprise, and Enterprise called Jeff Altman, with American Trappers.

Altman said he hardly ever sees snakes end up in cars, and he believes it likely got in through the wheel and slithered around until it found a good hiding place.

"It's a native snake to Florida," Altman said. "They're all around. If people see these in their yards, don't kill 'em. They are very beneficial snakes. They eat rodents and insects."

The good news for Young is that the snake is not venomous. While it is about 3 1/2 feet long, it gets even longer.

Altman said he plans on releasing the snake back into the wild.

Young said finding the snake was not only an experience she'll never forget, but one her family won't let her live down.

"My parents, they just found it real funny," Altman said.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car gave Young another car to use after the snake sighting. But Young said she was a little nervous getting in it right away. She said she's been scarred by the whole experience.