ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Santa Ana, California) 13 December 04 Bus ejects non-paying python (Heather Lourie)
A county bus was delayed for an hour after a python hitched a ride on Route 29.
"He wouldn't pay his fare so they took him off the bus," quipped Michael Litschi, a spokesman for the Orange County Transportation Authority, which oversees O.C.'s bus service.
The 3-foot-long snake was discovered at 9:40 a.m. Wednesday as the bus traveled north on Beach Boulevard. Minutes later OCTA's dispatch center got a frantic call. "There is a snake on my bus!" driver Anthony Cathey said into his cell phone.
A dozen passengers were evacuated at Bolsa Avenue. At one point, the snake crawled inside a plastic side panel near a row of seats - poking his head out when people got too close.
Police officers refused to touch it. So the county's animal control was called to remove the brown and green ball python.
These snakes can grow up to 5 feet long. Apparently, they're common pets.
"They figured it belonged to one of the passengers, but no one would claim responsibility," Litschi said. "It's kind of strange."
OCTA's customer-relations hot line reported no calls about missing pythons.
Bus ejects non-paying python