WPMT (York, Pennsylvania) 06 November 13 Mystery remains: how 10-foot Python ended up along York County roadway (Melissa Nardo)
After finding an exotic animal in York County almost a month ago, police are still unsure of how it got there. An investigation has uncovered the snake’s former owner, but there are still more questions than answers.
Ricky is a 10-foot long reticulated python, estimated to be around 3-years old. She was found along a roadway, near a wooded area in North Codorus Township. Southwest Regional Police then gave her to the Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary.
“A species like this is native to Southeast Asia where it’s very warm. Probably by now if she was still in the wild she would have already frozen,” said Jesse Rothacker, founder of Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary.
After Ricky’s story aired on the news tips started rolling in to police and the sanctuary. “All of the tips were kind of pointing towards one person who had owner her previously,” said Rothacker.
Police say that Tom Moore admitted to previously owning ‘Ricky’ but said he gave her away. Police say Moore now lives out of state. He was questioned by ‘Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’ in his current state, but reportedly did not cooperate with the investigation.
Moore has been known to work with exotic animals.
“Normally the Reticulated Python is a very aggressive species, but as you can see, this is one of the most gentle snakes that i have ever handled. So she has been handled somewhat to have this type of personality,” said Rothacker.
Despite having found the owner, the mystery still remains. “We still don’t know what happened since Tom owned this snake and the time it was released,” said Rothacker.
Ricky’s story is a message to anyone who owns exotic animals.”We want people to know it’s never OK to release animals in the wild. Every animal is on this planet for a reason and every animal does have a special side. So a snake like this, you can see, is very sweet and I couldn’t see anyone trying to hurt an animal,” said Rothacker.
If you have information about this case you are asked to contact Southwest Regional Police: 717-225-1333 or contact: Forgotten Friend Reptile Sanctuary
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