CAPITAL TIMES (Madison, Wisconsin) 22 August 07 Missing a boa constrictor? Big snake found in northside backyard (Bill Novak)

Anyone lose a boa constrictor?

A six-foot-long boa "as big around as your arm" is residing at the Dane County Humane Society shelter today, a week after scaring the bejesus out of a North side woman who almost stepped on it while watering bushes in her backyard.

The woman, who would only identify herself as Jen, ran into the snake Aug. 14 in the yard of her Browning Road home near Warner Park.

"I almost stepped on it," Jen said. "He lifted up to my knees, mouth wide open, fangs exposed."

Jen said she slowly backed away, then ran to her house and called police.

"Every other word was snake: 'big snake,' 'real big snake,'" Jen said. "I was so scared I almost peed my pants."

Police told Jen animal control would call her.

"I'm describing the snake to animal control and they're telling me it's probably a garden snake," Jen said. "Uh, no, I'm telling them this ain't a native snake, it's a python or boa or something, but they weren't understanding what I was describing so they hung up."

She called the police. Again.

"They said I should get to a safe place and watch the snake," Jen said. "It started moving so I'm yelling at the police, t'he snake is on the move, the snake is on the move.'"

Jen's husband Tom arrived home. She describes the snake to him and he's a little skeptical himself.

"He grabs a pillowcase and heads to the backyard," Jen said. "He took one look where the snake was and slowly started backing away."

Another call was made to animal control.

"The guy finally came out and just picked it up and started wrapping it around himself," Jen said, shuddering when talking about it.

The animal control officer brought the wayward boa to the Humane Society shelter on Voges Road.

"Since it was a stray, we had to hold it in quarantine for seven days," said public relations and development coordinator Gayle Viney. "When it came in, we tried to set up a cage for it and he wrapped himself around the handler. He's pretty strong."

The boa constrictor isn't currently up for adoption, according to the Humane Society website, but Viney said it had to belong to somebody, so if you're missing your boa, call the Humane Society at 838-0413.
Missing a boa constrictor?

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