Burmese python on the loose in Joplin MO.

deadliestformula · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 06:36 PM

http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/local_story_187011049

Published July 06, 2006 12:00 am -

Python on lam in southwest Joplin

The Joplin Globe

By Jeff Lehr

Globe Staff Writer

A large albino Burmese python is on the loose in the Greenwood area southwest of Joplin.

Its owner told the Newton County Sheriff's Department that the missing snake is almost 20 feet long and weighs about 100 pounds.

The yellow-and-white patterned constrictor reportedly escaped from a glass, aquarium-type container in the back yard of its owner on Bonnie Lane.

"It's a pretty good-sized snake, so we don't want anyone coming across it not being aware of it," Chief Deputy Chris Jennings said Wednesday afternoon.

He said the owner, who has had the python about eight years, reported it missing on Wednesday and has been informing all his neighbors.

The owner maintains that the snake has never been aggressive in the past, Jennings said. But the potential for danger to people or their pets and livestock is inherent in the species, according to Jennings and two local snake experts.

"We're just concerned about it getting hungry," Jennings said.

Anyone who comes across the python is advised to contact the Newton County Sheriff's Department at (417) 451-8300, authorities said. Jennings said people should not try to capture the snake on their own.

Pythons in the wild eat mice, rats, amphibians, lizards, other snakes, birds and various mammals. In captivity, they frequently are fed rats, mice, rabbits, pigs and goats. The owner of the missing python told the Sheriff's Department that this one has been fed mice and rats all its life.

The Burmese python is not venomous. It kills by coiling around its prey, squeezing the breath out of it and causing the prey's blood vessels to explode from constriction of the coils. The snake generally swallows its prey whole with hinged jaws that are capable of consuming an animal four to five times the size of the snake's head.

"Even domestic dogs and cats would be fair game for a snake that size," said Mike Crocker, superintendent of the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield.

Crocker said a Burmese python normally will not grab a human, but there is no guarantee. He said basic precautions need to be taken by people who are around the snakes. Matters can take turns for the worse with such snakes, even for owners who have kept them as pets all their lives, he said.

A Burmese python killed its owner in St. Louis in the 1980s, Crocker said.
"Usually, what happens is they'll grab you at feeding time," he said. "They smell a rabbit or whatever you're feeding them, and aren't smart enough to know you're not what they're smelling."

Both Crocker and Ron McCoy, co-owner of Reptile World Zoo on Kodiak Road in Newton County, are somewhat skeptical of the reported length of the missing python.

Twenty feet is about the maximum length the species reaches. But 20-foot pythons usually top 200 pounds at a minimum, they said.

Crocker said the Springfield zoo has two Burmese pythons in the 12- to 14-foot range that weigh around 100 pounds each. McCoy said his walk-through zoo has a 15-foot Burmese python that weighs 230 pounds, and graduated from eating mice and rats to 90 pounds of rabbits per month quite a while ago.

McCoy said people, even owners, frequently overestimate the true length of snakes. But even if it is just a 10-foot python that weighs 100 pounds, it would be capable of killing a person, he said.

Jennings said the owner, who was not being identified by authorities, believes he must have forgotten to latch the container in which the python was being kept.

Jennings said the Sheriff's Department may have to kill the python if it is spotted by someone. He said the owner would be contacted, and recapturing the snake would be considered as an option, but the safety of people, pets and livestock would be the primary concern.

Crocker said it is possible that the snake may never be seen again. He said it probably could survive in the wild in Missouri for a few months, but it could never survive a winter here as a temperate-climate snake.

Red-Tailed_mustang · #2 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 06:38 PM

They said it was 20 ft and only 100 lbs???

deadliestformula · #3 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 06:42 PM

I directly highlighted the article and pasted it here, So yup. That's what was published in the paper there. My favorite part is that the snake was housed in an AQUARIUM in THE BACK YARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am in St Louis and I know that Joplin is a little far from here but our weather hasn't been remotely warm enough for that. As wrong of an idea as that is. If I am not mistaken we had record lows for this time of year only a few days ago (54 degrees overnight) I might be mistaken about the exact temp but it was chilly, and I doubt Joplin was much warmer.

MED04 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadliestformula

The yellow-and-white patterned constrictor reportedly escaped from a glass, aquarium-type container in the back yard of its owner on Bonnie Lane.

Pythons in the wild eat mice, rats, amphibians, lizards, other snakes, birds and various mammals. In captivity, they frequently are fed rats, mice, rabbits, pigs and goats. The owner of the missing python told the Sheriff's Department that this one has been fed mice and rats all its life.

OK, so the owners have been keeping it outside (in Missouri), in a tank (a 20 foot snake) and they have been feeding it mice and rats it's entire life?!? Maybe someone who knows how to read a caresheet will find it.

JuliusSqueezer · #5 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 06:58 PM

I'm sure 20 feet is a gross exageration. No one wants to admit they have a 13 foot python.

amercnwmn · #6 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 07:30 PM

This story was already posted on the Retic thread by Fb4076..he lives in Joplin. I heard about this story through a co-worker of Ryan's.
When I initially heard the story of a loose python, My first thought was of the 15ft Retic that Fb, and myself suspect may have been set free by its owner in the Joplin area.. Come to find out it was a completely different snake.
Its really a shame, as fb4076 said, the Reptile World Zoo owners do a lot with the community to educate, and undo many negative implications of reptiles; only to be undermined by people releasing (whether accidentally or on purpose) their snakes.

Loose snakes are nothing new to our area (SW Missouri & NW Arkansas); there are rumors and reports from many years ago. However, they are beginning to make major news. Now there is talk within community leadership groups inquiring about ownership of large and venomous species, as well as how these animals pose a danger to others.

Not a good future in sight for responsible reptile owners in our area, thanks to the irresponsibility of others..

deadliestformula · #7 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 07:36 PM

I hadn't seen the original thread. Didn't mean to repost.

amercnwmn · #8 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 07:45 PM

No worries, Im glad it was brought out to the main so more people can comment on it.

Being near us, Im sure you share the concern on behalf of the responsibe parties who can and usually ARE affected by incidents such as this.

Keep your eyes and ears open in regards to future legislation regarding reptile ownership. Usually just after such stories are released in this area, it opens up a Pandora's Box against snake ownership..

Lazyguy · #9 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 07:56 PM

Too bad I don't live in Joplin. I would be all over that. That is a shame that they are keeping such a large snake(most likely 10-14ft) in a glass tank. Breaks my heart.

amercnwmn · #10 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 08:21 PM

If it was in NW Arkansas, I could legally assist in the search. From my understanding, if you are not part of the team assigned to hunt it (and they are HUNTING it) and are caught looking for it, you face a steep fine.
I'm trying to get in contact with a friend at the local Animal Control in Benton County to see if they will be assisting, if so, I can join in.

I'd like to see it recaptured safely, and before it hurts itself or any domesticated animals..

RehabRalphy · #11 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 08:25 PM

yikes i live close to joplin

ChristopherD · #12 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 10:29 PM

Yeah, the snakes name is Julius Squeezer! Haha, but I know that right now they are hunting the snake with pistols, rifles and shotguns. They said that they WILL try to capture the snake alive, but if it becomes defensive they will shoot it (owners suggestion actually). The snake actually escaped on the 29th.

ChristopherD · #13 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 10:30 PM

Oh, by the way, I think they determined the snake was in the 10-14 foot range.

ChristopherD · #14 (**permalink**) 07-10-2006, 10:32 PM

OOPS, I need to keep up on the news here. Good news ya'll!

http://www.joplinglobe.com/siteSearc...tory_190235944

Well, kinda good news, the snake is still in the aquarium, and all they did was put blocks on it to hold the top down...

Jem_Scout · #15 (**permalink**) 07-11-2006, 03:10 AM

If I were that big and all you fed ME were a few mice and rats, I would run away from home too!! Grrrr...some people should be shot!

amercnwmn · #16 (**permalink**) 07-11-2006, 03:13 AM

Heres what the link says:
Julius Squeezer returns home

The Joplin Globe
By Nammi Bhagvandoss

There's no place like home - even for a snake.
After nine or 10 days on the lam, Julius Squeezer found his own way home, to the delight of his owner and family. He was a bit perturbed but in good shape.

The 14-foot-long, yellow and white albino Burmese python turned up shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday. He was placed back in his aquarium. But this time, concrete blocks were put above the locking mechanisms on the metal hood that covers the aquarium.

"The kids found him in the field," said James Johnson, 21, the python's owner. "They didn't catch him. They just (saw) him coming back. ... He allowed me to pick him up, but he was really aggravated."

The python had been missing since June 29 or 30. Johnson said the snake escaped after he left the python's cage unlocked.

Johnson, who has had the python since he was 13 and since the python was 10 days old, had been looking for it by clearing brush near his home in the Greenwood community, southwest of Joplin. He also had been looking for the python at night with a spotlight.

Johnson said his young cousins and neighborhood children were playing outside Sunday, and one of them was alerted by a barking dog.

Jessica, 9, the daughter of Johnson's aunt who named the python, said she saw a dog barking and looked to see what he was barking at.

"I looked over, and there he was," Jessica said. "I screamed, 'Julius is back!' I ran and told them."

Jessica said she was at the entrance to her home when she heard the barking dog. When she saw the python, she went inside and told her family.

"I'm glad he's back," Jessica said. "It just wasn't the same without him being here."

Johnson said he was sleeping when Julius Squeezer arrived home.

"They ran over to see what (the dog) was barking at," Johnson said. "They seen it was Julius and they ran up to the house to wake me up, and they were screaming, 'Julius is coming back. Julius is coming back.'

Julius is back...safe and sound..more or less.

ChristopherD · #17 (**permalink**) 07-11-2006, 08:19 PM

You forgot the second page:

"I didn't know what was going on. I thought they were playing."

When he got up to see what was going on, Johnson said, he saw the python moving forward and the children walking behind it.

"They were following behind him," Johnson said. "I went out there, and he started hissing when I stopped right in front of him. I put my hand out, and he started moving around. He allowed me to pick him up without any problems."

Johnson said it appeared as if his python was anxious.

"I'm not sure if some animals messed with him," Johnson said.

"I'm glad he's home, back in his cage," Johnson said. "Nobody's been hurt. He didn't get hold of anybody's animals. It takes a lot of stress off. The possibilities of things going bad were endless - whether an animal had attacked him. But, he decided to come home on his own."

Johnson said he believes the python might have been searching for water, and it's likely he did not eat anything because he did not have a wide girth.

"He's not even moving. He's probably glad to be in there (the aquarium)," Johnson said. "After eight years, he's found out that's where he wants to be."

Security check

James Johnson said he called the Newton County Sheriff's Department and local media shortly after getting the python back into his cage.

Newton County Deputy Brad Black went to the Johnson home to make sure that the family had taken precautions so that the python would not escape again.

deadliestformula · #18 (**permalink**) 07-11-2006, 08:27 PM

ummm........... Where's the humane society involvment making sure that the animal is being cared for properly? (Because it sure don't sound like it is!!)

MED04 · #19 (**permalink**) 07-11-2006, 08:43 PM

I wonder what kind of "precautions" they have taken??

boafiend · #20 (**permalink**) 07-11-2006, 08:50 PM

lol someone commented on it and said "what mental short coming makes a person want to own a pet like this" some people are so ignorant it makes me mad, that like saying someone is stupid for wearing a red shirt

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