Second large snake spotted loose in Lee
By Amy Sowder and Gabriella Souza
asowder@news-press.com
gsouza@news-press.com
Originally posted on August 23, 2007
A 6-foot boa constrictor was discovered on the loose, pursuing a cat in San Carlos Park late Wednesday night.
That makes it the second giant snake spotted and trapped in 15 hours in Lee County.
Shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday, a 9-foot green Burmese python was found and trapped at Beach Club Apartments on Winkler Avenue Extension in Fort Myers.
Scott’s Animal Services responded shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday to a resident’s call about the slithering reptile estimated to weigh more than 20 pounds.
The resident had called the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, who in turn called the private licensed trapper.
The snake was in a bag when the trapper arrived, said Scott Flavelle, owner of the business.
The snake was on Knight Road, which is south of Alico Road west of Interstate 75.
The red-tailed boa constrictor appeared to have been somebody’s pet, Flavelle said.
The snake could have escaped or the owner could have released it because it grew too big to manage or was too expensive to maintain.
“They’re escape artists,” Flavelle said. “You turn your back for a few minutes, and they’re gone.”
Flavelle said he will wait a little while to see if anyone claims the snake. If not, he will try to find a proper home for it or give it to a reptile rescue group.
A coming law could penalize owners who release their exotic pets into the wild.
A new state regulation requiring certain exotic pets to be microchipped should make it easier for Flavelle and other trappers to track down owners.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission microchip regulation will go into effect Jan. 1, but current reptile owners have until June 2008 to have microchips inserted in their pets.
The microchip is similar to those used for dogs and cats and will cost an exotic pet owner about $25.
The measure comes on the heels of a new state law that requires owners of certain exotic reptiles to apply for a $100 annual permit. The law goes into effect Jan. 1.
The microchip measure targets six types of exotics: Burmese pythons; reticulated pythons; African rock pythons; amethystine or scrub pythons; green anaconda; and Nile monitor lizards.
A pet owner who violates the law or regulation could face a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail.
