Dog walkers warned after 18ft long python that can crush pets to death is on the loose
Dog walkers are being warned about an 18ft python on the loose that can crush pets to death.
Four of the exotic non-native snakes have been captured in the Twigmoor and Cleatham areas in North Lincolnshire.
The reticulated pythons - the world's longest snake - are thought to have been dumped in the woods by their owner.
Cops at Humberside Police have issued a chilling warning to dog owners that the non-venomous snake 'kill their prey by biting it and then coiling around it to literally squeeze the life out of it'.
They are also urging owners to keep pets on leads in the areas where the pythons were found.
RSG Reptiles in Alford rescued the snakes with one being found in the village of Manton after a member of the public saw it outside a converted church, the Metro reported.
Its owner, Rob Stokes, posted a video on the firm's YouTube channel in which he said he was 'angry' at the people who had ditched the snakes and said he would have taken them on 'no problem'.
'Apart from being a danger to people's pets and to other wildlife, this time of year they probably would survive - it's warm,' he said. 'But come the winter, not a chance.'
Dog walkers are being warned about an 18ft python on the loose that can crush pets to death. Officers have captured four of the non-native snakes in the Twigmoor and Cleatham areas
Two of the pythons were infested with parasite mites, which Mr Stokes said was like fleas to dogs.
He said in his passionate 15-minute video: 'These two poor snakes have been basically thrown out the van into a field. For absolutely no reason.'
Reticulated pythons
Reticulated pythons are the longest snakes in the world.
The huge creatures crush their prey, squeezing tighter around the neck as they exhale, leading to cardiac arrest or suffocation.
Victims die within a couple of minutes but it could take an hour to be devoured.
They eat small mammals and birds but can eat some prey as large as deer and pigs.
They occasionally eat reptiles and on rare instances humans.
Reticulated pythons that are 6-8 feet are referred to as 'super dwarfs' while those 10-12 feet are called 'dwarfs'.
Reticulated pythons originate from South-East Asia.
Mr Stokes told the Metro that for now they would have 'to treat them like evidence for the police, because the incident is being investigated'.
'So they'll stay with us until there's either a prosecution or no further action from the police,' he said.
'After that they'll either move to suitable homes or stay with us, and potentially become part of the animal encounters we do.'
Humberside Police said its Rural Task Force were investigating the dumping of the pythons, an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, on June 11.
A spokesman said: 'So far four snakes have been captured by colleagues who work with exotic animals.
'They are believed to be Reticulated Pythons. We suspect that 1 snake may currently still be out in the wild.
'The reticulated Python is the longest species on earth. It is a non venomous constrictor snake. In the wild, they will kill their prey by biting it and then coiling around it to literally squeeze the life out of it.
'In the pet trade, these come in many colours. An 18ft Snake found at Manton is a wild type, but the other three are a mixture of two Albinos and what we think is a Pied Golden Child Morph.
'In the event that you find one in the wild in the UK, please call police immediately. 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.
'We would advise keeping dogs on a lead in the areas where these snakes were found.
'These Snakes will not attack you. They will only try to defend themselves if they feel threated. We suspect that the snakes that have been dumped were pets and this will make them less likely to bite.
'PLEASE if you have a pet that you can no longer keep for whatever reason, please take it to an exotic animal shop or animal rescue. DO NOT release them into the wild.
'If you have any information on the release of these snakes please contact Humberside Police Rural Task Force RTF@humberside.police.uk or call 101 quoting investigation reference 25000081788.'
Twigmoor Woods is a 3.9km circular woodland trail near Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire.
Cleatham is a small hamlet which includes Cleatham Hall, a historic country house set in its own grounds, near Manton, also outside Scunthorpe.
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