NEWS-PRESS (Fort Myers, Florida) 22 December 06 8-foot snake found on S.R. 82 - Boa likely released into wild by owner (Michelle L. Start)

Seeing opossums, armadillos and raccoons crushed on a busy highway isn't uncommon in Lee County.

But how about a 71/2-foot red-tailed boa constrictor?

The dead snake, half a foot taller than basketball star Shaquille O'Neal, was spotted Thursday afternoon by a motorist on State Road 82 near Gateway Boulevard.

The motorist called the Lee County Sheriff's Office, which in turn called Scott's Animal Services' owner Scott Flavelle.

"My personal opinion is it probably got too big and expensive for the owner," Flavelle said. "At this size, they would have to be finding it rabbits to eat. Plus, when they get so big, they are hard to handle."

The snake was found near a swampy area close to Gateway.

"I wouldn't doubt that he was enjoying his freedom out there," Flavelle said. "I know they're out in the wild. It's hard to find a home for them when they get that big."

Still, releasing them into the wild is illegal. They can damage ecological balance, said Scott Hardin, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission exotic specialist coordinator.

Chances of getting caught and prosecuted, though, are nearly zero.

Hardin said a wildlife officer has to see the owner release the animal, be able to recapture it and establish who it belonged to.

And if all that happens, the maximum fine is $1,000 and a year imprisonment.

"We're trying to set up a surrender network," Hardin said. "We want to give people better options."

Officials are also looking at requiring permits to purchase larger types of snakes.

Hardin said commissioners are keeping a close watch on the problem, but don't think the snakes are causing large amounts of damage.

"There is no doubt the red-tailed boa and Burmese pythons are eating some native animals, but are they having impacts at population levels? Normally, individual snakes will not have population level impacts unless they intersect with a limited range species," Hardin said.
8-foot snake found on S.R. 82

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