What Happens When an 18-Foot Python is on the Loose?

Snakes of all varieties are found in communities worldwide. However, when an 18-foot python is on the loose, it can put those who live in communities where the huge snakes are not part of the local environment on edge.

With residents having small pets and children where the python was seen slithering, potentially looking for prey, it is natural to assume that the community would be told to remain in their homes and not go outdoors unless it was absolutely necessary. But, with this snake believed to be someone’s former pet, the chances of harm coming to people were low. Consequently, areas where the snake was seen were advised how to stay safe, but it was deemed unnecessary to upend routines because of the snake’s presence.

Community Warned When An 18-Foot Python Was On The Loose

Pythons are not native to England. Instead, they are home to more tropical climates such as Australia, Africa, and Asia. Therefore, it came as quite a surprise to residents in Lincolnshire, England, when a group of massive snakes suddenly appeared across the countryside.

On June 10, four pythons were located across Lincolnshire in the country regions of Twigmoor and Cleatham. This came as a surprise to residents, given that these snakes are not historically found in these areas. It also led local police departments to issue warnings about how to stay safe with the snakes on the loose.

One snake was reportedly 18 feet long. This length is not surprising for reticulated pythons, with some growing to be 21 feet or longer. But, in a community that is accustomed to the much smaller grass, adder, and smooth snakes, a python of this size needed to be taken seriously.

The python, along with four others, was reported in the countryside, according to The Independent. It is believed that the snakes were someone’s pets that were dumped and left to fend for themselves. Among the dumped snakes were the 18-foot reticulated python, along with two albino pythons and a Pied Golden Child Morph python.

According to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal to release non-native species into the wild. While the local police department did put the communities where the snakes were located on alert, extreme measures did not have to be taken, given that the snakes were not seen as a threat to those who lived there.

Massive Python Did Not Cause The Community To Shelter In Place

When wild animals that have been brought into captivity escape, there are times when the facility the animal escaped from or even a nearby community will be asked to shelter in place for the safety of those who live there, their animals that could be seen as prey, and so no harm comes to the loose animal itself. However, this was not the case when the 18-foot python was reported to have been spotted in Lincolnshire. After the snake and others were spotted slithering around the countryside, police issued warnings to residents, advising them on how to keep themselves and their pets safe if they came into contact with the snakes, which were not native to the region.

“We would advise keeping dogs on a lead in the areas where these snakes were found,” a Humberside Police spokesperson explains to The Sun.

“These Snakes will not attack you. They will only try to defend themselves if they feel threatened,” the spokesperson continues. “We suspect that the snakes that have been dumped were pets, and this will make them less likely to bite.”

The police also warned residents about what to do if they came across a python.

“In the event that you find one in the wild in the UK, please call [the] police immediately,” the spokesperson states. “DO NOT try to catch it yourself, keep an eye on it and give a What3Words location to the police so it can be assessed by an expert and collected appropriately.”

This warning went out after four pythons were located and captured, with one still believed to be on the loose.

18-Foot Python Was Found, But More Could Be On The Loose

The 18-foot python that was on the loose was eventually captured by a rescue that specializes in exotic snakes. While the snake did have some parasites on it, akin to fleas for cats and dogs, it was no worse for wear, having been out in the wild since being released by what is believed to be an owner that could no longer care for it.

However, it was not only the 18-foot python found in the countryside in England. There were three others that were eventually located within Lincolnshire County, where the huge python was rescued. But, those four may not be the only loose snakes in the region, according to Rob Stokes, owner of RSG Reptiles, who is now responsible for the pythons.

“There [were] reports of another, but there’s a chance it could be one of the ones we already have,” Stokes explained to Metro. “However, I’d advise people in the areas [where] they were found to keep their dogs on leads.”

“These snakes are used to humans, and unlikely to harm anyone unless threatened,” Stokes continues, “but there is still an element of risk, especially to dogs and small animals, so be vigilant.”

It is for these reasons and more that exotic animals should never be released into the wild if they can no longer be cared for.

Exotic Animals Should Never Be Released Into The Wild

Exotic animals are those that live in the wild in places other than where they have been adopted as pets. However, there is the belief that because their species is capable of living in the wild on their own, these pets can as well. More often than not, this is not the case.

If exotic animals have been raised as pets their entire lives, they do not have the skills necessary to survive in the wild. They do not know who their natural predators are and may try to seek shelter and food where people live. For those who do not have experience dealing with exotic animals, this could lead to a potentially deadly situation for the animal released.

Additionally, when exotic animals are released, they compete with native animals. This puts the ecosystem out of balance and can cause animals who should be living in traditional wild habitats to be at risk of being eradicated. This can be seen explicitly in Florida, where the Burmese python population has ballooned out of control since a breeding facility damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 allowed the snakes to escape. Each of these pythons is capable of killing hundreds of native animals, highlighting the problem the Sunshine State has.

For those who can no longer care for their exotic animals (or domestic animals, for that matter), it is recommended and encouraged to take the animals to a shelter or rescue where they can receive proper care and eventually be adopted into a home that can care for them. This is better for not only the animals’ overall well-being but also for the environments and animal populations that could be harmed as a result of illegal dumping.