Reptile & Amphibian Forums

HERALD-STANDARD (Uniontown, Pennsylvania) 29 August 04 Residents concerned over loose boa constrictor (Jennifer Harr)
North Union Township residents who live near Kennedy School should not attempt to rid the area of a rogue boa constrictor by burning down nearby woods, a humane officer has cautioned.
"The snake will just go somewhere else," said Robin Moore with Noah's Ark Animal Shelter in North Union Township.
Since an article that mentioned the snake was loose in the area of the school was published, Moore said, the shelter has received approximately 25 calls from concerned residents, many of whom threatened to burn down the woods. Moore said she believes someone released the boa constrictor into the woods several weeks ago after the snake became too large for its cage.
After the first frost in the area, Moore said, the snake, which needs a warm climate to survive, will die. In the meantime, to assuage fears, Moore said humane officials will search for the snake. She also noted that the boa constrictor is a "shy" snake and generally will leave people alone.
Moore repeated her caution to residents not to leave garage doors or basement doors open, since the boa constrictor searches out warm areas.
"It's no different than a black snake. If you leave your garage door open, the snake will come in," Moore said.
But threats of burning woods to get rid of the snake won't do that at all, she said. The reptile will just move to another area.
"I hope, if anything, this shows the ignorance not only to animals, but to people," Moore said. "There are a lot of older people up there who are terrified that their house is going to burn down because of this."
Residents concerned over loose boa constrictor

.
-----
Thanks and take care - Joe Rollo
'Tis not the stongest of the species that will eventually survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change' Charles Darwin

The sad thing is, these same people are allowed to vote.

Bill

these are the same people that make our laws and vote for who controls our country !! what a shame !!
-----
NO BEAUTY LIKE THE BEAUTY OF A TRUE REDTAIL !!

Did this town see the movie Anaconda and belive it? Hope nothing like a cat gets lose they may have to nuke the town to save us all.

If they're like the people here, which I'm sure they are or worse, they're not the brightest crayons in the box if ya know what I mean. Ignorance is rampant. Especially when it comes to snakes. This is bumpkin country. See a snake, kill it. I can't wait to get back to Philly. The rest of PA is just embarASSing.

I live in PA too. Did you hear that rat snakes and copperheads are cross breeding here now? They are producing a rat snake x copperhead hybrid that looks like a rat snake but is venomous. I tried to explain to the person telling me that one lays eggs and one has live birth, but he was convinced that he found one (he killed it of course). I told him to capture one next time he finds it and take it to some snake scientists (couldn't use word herpetologist), they should be intrested in studying it.
-----
Tim W
=========
0.1 Dumeril Boa
0.1 Domestic Housecat

I've heard that from SO MANY people. It's fascinating that they truly believe it. I don't expect them to know any better. It's just the fact that they believe something that's impossible and think you're the stupid one when you try to explain it to them. I guess I'd rather be a snake geek than uneducated.

I've heard the same thing and offered $100 to the first person that could show me 1 needless to say I haven't had to pay anyone.
Bryan