California Park Officials Search for Python After It Was Reportedly Dumped

Park officials are looking for a python they believe was abandoned by its owner in Anthony Chabot Regional Park in Oakland, California.

According to a statement sent to Newsweek, a hiker spotted a non-native snake, presumed to be a ball python, on the side of one of the trails in the park. The statement noted that abandoning any animals in the park system is illegal. Native species of plants and animals in the parks can be negatively impacted, as well as the animal that was released.

There are things an owner can do if they are no longer able to care for their pet, according to the Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (SEPARC).

Anna Hoffman, the hiker who spotted the snake, told Newsweek in a message she saw it off the path and close to the beginning of the trail. Although it was among the plants, she said it was easy to spot because of the white color and the size. She said it was difficult to tell the exact length of the reptile, but believed it was longer than 3 feet.

She said she was out on a hike before the Super Bowl on February 13, but finding the snake was a "shock."

"I felt terrified and surprised," Hoffman said. "I had never seen a snake that large in the wild. I didn't know if it was injured or dead. As it was unmoving and its coloring was so different than everything around it."

She showed her daughter the photos she took and was encouraged to report the snake because it is a non-native species. In addition to telling her friend, who is a park ranger, Hoffman also took to social media to spread the word about the snake.

The Oakland Zoo noted that ball pythons can grow between 4 and 5 feet on average, and they are native to Sub-Saharan Africa. These snakes are not considered social, and if they feel threatened, they may coil up or strike their aggressor. A bite from a ball python, while lacking in venom, is painful due to its "needle sharp" teeth.

Jen Vanya, public information specialist for the East Bay Regional Park District, told Newsweek that park staff has been searching the grounds for the snake.

"This is a remote area," Vanya explained. "It's difficult to find the snake because it's probably in a hiding area trying to stay safe and warm."

She said there is plenty of ground in the 3,304-acre park that officials won't be able to cover simply because some terrain doesn't allow for hiking. However, she said officials are hopeful that between the regular trail checks and getting tips from hikers, they'll be able to locate the snake.

If the snake is found, officials will collect it and work with the Oakland Zoo to conduct a health assessment and determine a long-term placement plan.

According to SEPARC, an owner may consider getting some advice from an expert if they are feeling overwhelmed by keeping a pet reptile. If the owner must remove the pet from their residence, they are encouraged to contact the pet store it was purchased from, find it a new home or contact animal control.

"Because of the pandemic, we've had an uptick of animals being abandoned in the parks," Vanya said. "We have a lot of parklands that people can access freely. There's been a lot of people who, for whatever reason, decide they don't want to keep their pet. They believe it's OK to abandon their pet in a park, but it's the worst thing they can do because they're not giving the animal a chance to survive."

Hoffman echoed the sentiment.

"I hope the snake is found and that the Oakland Zoo can tend it back to health," she said. "Dumping animals is cruel and irresponsible."