A large snake is on the loose in Jordan, and its owner is hoping that it can be captured unharmed.
The 14-foot, 80-pound Burmese python is not “overtly dangerous” and is likely to avoid people, said its owner, whose biggest fear is that someone will kill the animal.
Diana Sleiertin, of MaxMan Reptile Rescue, said the snake was intentionally released by someone who came onto her Schaap Road, Jordan, property Monday and cut straps on four cages and propped the tops open.
Sleiertin said Tuesday that she's a responsible animal owner and wanted to let people know the animal was loose because it could bite if it is cornered or harassed. She said the snake is very docile and reclusive and is likely in the water and muck in the old Erie Canal in Jordan.
“He is not a dangerous animal,” Sleiertin said. “He's one of our educational animals and has been handled by hundreds of children.”
The snake appeared in the Jordan Memorial Day parade and has visited libraries and children's birthday parties, Sleiertin said.
In the wild, the snake will hunt small animals, including rabbit and muskrat, Sleiertin said, but could also go after cats and small dogs if it got the chance.
Sleiertin said that the snake could injure or even kill a person, but that the same could be said for a dog that runs away from its home.
“I want people to realize that he's not going to intentionally hurt anybody,” she said. “But my fear is that someone is going to see him and try to harm him because they think that he's dangerous. He is truly tame.”
Sleiertin said she will put up signs along the canal trail near her property and is hoping that someone will contact her if they see the snake so that she can try to capture it.
Sleiertin said the snake would be able to survive outdoors only until winter, when it would succumb to the cold.
“It's really unfair to the animal,” Sleiertin said of whoever vandalized its cage and let it loose. “He will not survive the winter.”
In addition to the snake, a 16-inch iguana also left its cage after it was propped open. The iguana, Sleiertin said, is harmless to everything except greenery and flowers.
Sleiertin asks anyone who sees one of her animals to contact her at 558-1261 or 689-9252.
Diana Sleiertin, of MaxMan Reptile Rescue, said the snake was intentionally released by someone who came onto her Schaap Road, Jordan, property Monday and cut straps on four cages and propped the tops open.
Sleiertin said Tuesday that she's a responsible animal owner and wanted to let people know the animal was loose because it could bite if it is cornered or harassed. She said the snake is very docile and reclusive and is likely in the water and muck in the old Erie Canal in Jordan.
“He is not a dangerous animal,” Sleiertin said. “He's one of our educational animals and has been handled by hundreds of children.”
The snake appeared in the Jordan Memorial Day parade and has visited libraries and children's birthday parties, Sleiertin said.
In the wild, the snake will hunt small animals, including rabbit and muskrat, Sleiertin said, but could also go after cats and small dogs if it got the chance.
Sleiertin said that the snake could injure or even kill a person, but that the same could be said for a dog that runs away from its home.
“I want people to realize that he's not going to intentionally hurt anybody,” she said. “But my fear is that someone is going to see him and try to harm him because they think that he's dangerous. He is truly tame.”
Sleiertin said she will put up signs along the canal trail near her property and is hoping that someone will contact her if they see the snake so that she can try to capture it.
Sleiertin said the snake would be able to survive outdoors only until winter, when it would succumb to the cold.
“It's really unfair to the animal,” Sleiertin said of whoever vandalized its cage and let it loose. “He will not survive the winter.”
In addition to the snake, a 16-inch iguana also left its cage after it was propped open. The iguana, Sleiertin said, is harmless to everything except greenery and flowers.
Sleiertin asks anyone who sees one of her animals to contact her at 558-1261 or 689-9252.
The Citizens' Say
There are 3 comment(s)
ethan wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:45 PM:
snake was intentionally released by someone who came onto her Schaap Road, Jordan, property Monday and cut straps on four cages and propped the tops open. "
loulou822 wrote on Jun 18, 2008 4:16 PM:
random wrote on Jun 18, 2008 3:05 PM:
....hope that it / they are captured really quickly.
....not everyone is a snake-lover and this particular snake sounds like a beast. I wouldn't classify it as an animal - it is a reptile to me. I don't understand why people are allowed to contain pythons, etc. in their unsecured home-cages. " "