60-pound boa constrictor caught in Lehigh Acres

A Colombian “Red-Tailed” Boa, which is a non-native exotic snake was captured in Lehigh Acres Sunday.

According to Scott Flavelle, who is licensed for nuisance animal control the python is 60 lbs. and more than 8 1/2 feet long.

The snake was caught near Joel Blvd in the area of the Greenbrier community.

Flavelle said it was possibly someone’s pet that escaped or was released at some point in the past.

The boa was sent to Adam’s Animal Encounters in Bokeelia.

Adam Pottruck, the owner of Adam’s Animal Encounters, said, “I was pretty excited to take her in. I was more impressed that he took the extra steps, Scott, took the extra steps to make sure she wasn’t euthanized, knowing it wasn’t her fault.

He added that it looks like the boa was slithering around Southwest Florida for a while and also agrees it appears to have been someone’s pet.

“There are native animals that are falling prey to these animals,” Pottruck explained, “It’s not even a fair competition.” Adding, the snake is big enough to eat a bobcat.

He reminds that it’s a good lesson for people who are considering getting one as a pet, “I wish the exotic pet trade was much stricter than people buying them off a whim and then deciding to get rid of it.”

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