Python Found Chilling in Indiana Walmart, Dubbed 'Wolverine'

A python was found relaxing inside a Walmart store in Bloomington, Indiana, according to animal control officials.

A customer at the store spotted the snake while doing some shopping on April 11, City of Bloomington Animal Care and Control said.

"While looking on the shelves a pattern caught her attention on the floor tucked under the shelving unit. Being a reptile owner, they immediately investigated," a spokesperson for Bloomington Animal Care and Control told Newsweek.

The customer subsequently notified authorities and the snake, which has been named "Wolverine," was later collected from the site.

"Happy tuesssssssday. Meet our little friend, Wolverine," Bloomington Animal Care and Control (BACC) said in a Facebook post on Tuesday featuring an image of the snake.

"This young python was found at our local Walmart chillin' on a shelf. It's unclear how he got there, but it was a good thing a Good Samaritan saw him and notified county officers to come pick him up."

The spokesperson told Newsweek the snake found in Walmart was a ball python measuring a little under 2 feet long.

Pythons are a family of mostly large, non-venomous snakes, comprising around 40 species, that are found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australia, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Though pythons aren't native to North America, these snakes can be found on the continent being kept as pets or in the environment as invasive animals.

Burmese pythons, for example, are native to parts of Southeast Asia, but they have now become established in southern Florida as an invasive species.

After Bloomington officials collected Wolverine, they attempted to find a new home for him.

"He is officially off his stray hold and he's in the market for a forever home!" BACC said in the Facebook post.

"He would do best with an experienced snake owner. He's a bit stressed and slightly spicy. He is growing used to the thought of being handled and will likely be able to relax more in a calmer environment."

BACC provided a link to a form where anyone interested in adopting the snake could apply. The agency quickly had a response from several people.

Later on Tuesday, BACC said in another Facebook post that had they had received "many" requests from potential adopters and so they were no longer listing him as available on their website.

"We realize snakes can be quite alarming for some and we can imagine finding one in a public space may cause discomfort," BACC said in the post. "We would love to know how our little pal ended up in Walmart, but Wolverine isn't talking!"

"We believe all living creatures, even those we do not understand or those that may cause fear, deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. We believe Wolverine will make a wonderful companion to the right family and we also believe he very much deserves that option."

Update 04/27/22, 07:33 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include comments from a Bloomington Animal Care and Control spokesperson.