KSL-TV (Salt Lake City, Utah) 16 June 06 Couple Surprised by 7-foot Snake (Alex Cabrero)

Some people coming home in Sugar House had a big surprise when they walked in the door. "This is a red-tailed boa."

Seven feet long, and about 20 pounds. That snake would scare most people, especially if you're not expecting to see it.

The woman who lives in this Sugar House apartment says her ex-roommate was supposed to take the snake away when she moved. But she didn't, and a pet cat was almost a victim.

"He's a playful kitty. Always playing. Still a kitty."

Versace is still one of those kittens who think everything is a toy. So when this snake came up to him, naturally, he thought it was playtime.

Ryan Sherman/ Lives in apartment: "The cat was like two feet in front of him, pawing at him. Do you realize you're going to be dinner?"

Ryan Sherman and Julie Beecroft had just returned home and were startled to see this snake-- an ex-roommate's snake which wasn't supposed to be there-- getting ready to attack their innocent cat.

Julie Beecroft/ Lives in apartment: "I thought I was seeing things. He opened his mouth and started hissing at the cat. I was like, 'Oh, Ryan?'"

Ryan Sherman: "When I picked it up with my gloves, it started wrapping around my arm, and I was like, 'Oohhh, that's a strong snake.'"

That's when they called Caleb Stroh with Critter Control. Stroh runs his own business picking up and getting rid of animals, reptiles, and other critters... the kind of things that make many of us squirm, like this 7-foot boa constrictor.

Caleb Stroh: "It would give anybody quite a startle, I think."

He picked it up, paying careful attention to the snake's head, and put it in a cloth bag, not too concerned it would bite him.

Caleb Stroh/ Critter Control: "Generally not too aggressive of a species, but they can be, like any other reptile. They're very instinct driven, which means they can be pretty dangerous."

Dangerous or not, these two are just happy to see it gone.

Caleb Stroh: "It's definitely not something for the novice, I would say."

Critter Control will take the snake to a ferret and reptile rescue center, where workers there will try and have the snake adopted by another family. Just not mine.
Couple Surprised by 7-foot Snake

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