UPDATED
STUART, FL -- A 6-foot-long, Colombian Red-Tail Boa Constrictor, which came out second best in an encounter with an automobile on Palm Beach Road Wednesday morning, is resting comfortably in the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center in Palm City.
The snake, which can reach 10 feet in length, was struck by a car as it tried to cross from east to west in the 1500 block of Palm Beach Road, said Stuart Police Officer Steven M. Graff.
Graff caught the injured snake, which earlier had been identified as a Burmese python, put it in a pillow case, and turned it over to Martin County Animal Control officers, who took it to the wildlife center for treatment.
“He was some one’s pet and just got out of a cage somewhere,” Graff said. “He is well fed and his color is good.”
Tim Brown, wildlife center education director, identified the snake as a variety which kills its prey by strangling and then swallowing them whole. The snake suffered an injury to its jaw, but Brown said it seems to be in fair condition. Time will tell if it survives, he said. Brown agreed with Graff that the snake probably escaped from someone’s property.
The snake, which kills by constricting its victims and then swallowing them, suffered an apparently serious injury, said Brown. The difference between the boa and the python, Brown said, is that the boa may reach 10 feet in length, while the python could grow to 20 feet and weigh several hundred pounds.
“It is illegal to release these kinds of snakes in Florida,” Brown said, “but they are powerful creatures and get out of many cages or rooms. This one is probably someone’s pet.”
Brown said caring for boas doesn’t fall in the mission of the wildlife center, which is to care for native, wild animal species, “but we love all animals so we will take care of this one as best we can.”
Capture of the brown and yellow snake Wednesday morning attracted a lot of attention as Graff waited for animal control.
“I think he is gorgeous,” said Margaret Pearson, a patient in Stuart Nursing and Rehabilitation, who had come out in her wheelchair with many other people to see what was causing all the commotion. “Just don’t let him get away.” Assured the snake would not hurt her and wasn’t slimy, she gave it a tentative pet with her hand.
“My family will not believe that because they know I am afraid of snakes,” she said.
Graff said he gets about three or four snake calls a year. Which snake he handles is a matter of consideration, he said.
STUART, FL -- Drivers wondering what was causing the midday traffic jam along Palm Beach Road had to do a double-take when they saw it.
A six-foot long Burmese python slithered into traffic along Palm Beach Road in Stuart shortly after 11am.
Stuart Police officer Steven Graff said the call came in as "a big snake in the road."
When he arrived, he didn't hesitate. He flipped on the flashing lights on his squad car, walked over and picked up the massive snake.
"I've done this before. I've handled alligators before. You just have to know which end to pick up," he said.
The snake was hit by a car during its travel across the road. It appeared to have a broken jaw. Graff called Martin County animal control to see if it could be rehabilitated or returned to its owner.
"It's clearly someone's pet. You can see it's well-fed," said Graff.
Residents of a nearby nursing and rehabilitative facility wandered by on the sidewalk.
"Forget about that!" said one officer, recoiling as he saw the snake for the first time, content to let Officer Graff handle it.
Margaret Pierson rolled up in her wheelchair, gazing at the snake as Graff held it in its arms.
"I think it's gorgeous, but it scares me to death," she said.
"Bye-bye, baby" said Pierson as officers prepared to place the python in a white sack, and cart it off to Animal Control.
Graff says his department gets 3-4 snake calls a year, but usually they are for rattlesnakes or coral snakes - wild species. He says it's rare to recover a python like this.
