Officer Wrangles Massive 75-Pound Boa Constrictor Found In Florida Neighborhood
Florida is one of those places, like Australia, that’s known for its wildlife that could kill you. From alligators and crocodiles to snakes and panthers, there’s plenty to be cautious about.
This recently came to light when some people discovered a massive 75-pound boa constrictor in their yard in St. Lucie County, Florida. Apparently, the wild snake was hanging out in the Tall Pines neighborhood, slithering between houses and trailers.
Agriculture Deputy Clay Mangrum with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 911 call about the snake and ended up man-handling the massive boa!
The sheriff’s office shared about the incident on October 28, which happened to be National First Responder Day. They wrote:
“A day in the life of a SLCSO Ag Deputy is never routine. How fitting on National First Responder Day that our deputies, with the assistance of FWC, captured a 10 foot, 75 pound boa this morning from the Tall Pines neighborhood. Thank you for everything you do for our community, especially when it involves a large reptile.”
According to FOX13 News, this was Mangrum’s first time dealing with a boa constrictor.
He said, “I was able to gain control of the snake by grabbing it behind its head. I then pulled it from where it was hiding and gained some control of its body. Other deputies on scene assisted by holding the snake bag.”
When deputies received the 911 call regarding the snake, they knew it would be big but didn’t realize it would quite so big.
Mangrum said, “Living and growing up in South Florida, I have been around snakes my whole life. I used to have snakes when I was a kid, as well. I have never handled large constrictors and have never handled a snake near the size of this boa before. It was an exciting experience, for sure.”
Boa contractors have been an issue in Florida since they were introduced to the state in the 1970s.
The Florida Museum reports that boa constrictors are a non-native species to Florida, coming from Latin America likely in the 1970s.
According to New York Public Radio’s WNYCSTUDIOS, around 2 million construction snakes (including both pythons and boa constrictors) were imported to Florida between the 1970s and early 2000s for the pet trade. Irresponsible pet owners ended up dumping some of those snakes into the wild where they were able to procreate and establish new populations.
The snakes in Florida, like in the Everglades, face no natural predators and have proven difficult to eradicate. They’re wreaking havoc on the natural ecosystem, and conservationists and authorities have been hard at work to remove the species from the wild.
While many wild constrictor snakes captured in Florida end up being killed, this particular boa constrictor was transported to Chandler’s Wildlife. That wildlife education group shared that the snake will live its life with them and will be used to educate the public on boa constrictors.
Whizzco
