Capturing and removing snakes is considered one of the most intimidating jobs. To safely remove snakes, experts must exercise extreme caution to avoid being bitten or constricted. One example of a dangerous snake to capture is the boa constrictor. This YouTube video from Coyote Peterson shows them capturing a massive boa constrictor in Costa Rica, and it’s an intense watch. Read here to learn more.
Boa constrictors do not have venomous bites, but will constrict around prey to cut off blood flow and breathing.
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Capturing a Boa Constrictor
Boa constrictors are some of the most powerful snakes in the world. Found throughout Central and South America, these snakes live in forests and scrublands. However, to get better access to food, they often take shelter in sheds and other outdoor structures, especially in rural areas. This scenario is depicted in the video above. A massive adult boa was found in a log storage shed, making it difficult for the homeowners to access or remove the snake. The owners of the home made the right decision in calling for professionals to remove it. While scary, boa constrictors are an important part of the ecosystem. Fortunately, boa constrictors generally avoid humans. Rather than intentionally harming humans, they prefer to hide or escape if possible. However, when cornered, as seen in the video above, their behavior can become more aggressive.
Capturing a boa constrictor can be a dangerous game. Like other constrictors, they are not venomous. This may alleviate some anxiety since they do not have venom, but their bites are still extremely painful. Their teeth are angled backward and are razor-sharp. When they bite, their multiple rows of teeth create numerous puncture wounds, designed to trap prey in their mouths. For the most part, defensive bites on humans are not fatal, but they are extremely painful and can lead to dangerous infections. As their name suggests, boa constrictors coil around and squeeze their prey. This can stop blood circulation and breathing, effectively paralyzing what they have captured. Adult female boa constrictors typically grow to six to ten feet long, with some individuals exceeding twelve feet, making them extremely difficult to manage and capture.
