Pet Boa Mistakenly Killed by Wildlife Officers

In April 2023, a pet boa constrictor named Big Shirl was mistakenly killed by Florida wildlife officers. This occurred at a Broward County warehouse during an operation to euthanize invasive pythons that had become prohibited species in Florida. Despite explicit warnings that Big Shirl was a pet and an allowed species, she was killed with a captive bolt device.

Bill McAdam, Big Shirl's owner for over a decade, is seeking restitution through a lawsuit filed in Leon County. The incident, dubbed the "Holy Thursday Massacre" by snake enthusiasts, happened three years after new regulations were put in place. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has admitted that mistakes were made during the euthanasia process.

McAdam and his former partner were commercial snake breeders who were required to rehome over 100 invasive pythons. While most were relocated, a significant number remained when officers arrived in February 2022. The lawsuit claims officers took "constructive possession" of the remaining snakes but the owners were still responsible for their care.

Following the incident, which left the warehouse floor covered in blood and feces, the FWC implemented new guidelines for animal euthanasia. FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto acknowledged the event had "bad optics." Executive Director Roger Young issued a memo in December 2023 detailing stricter protocols for killing animals, including requiring superior officer approval for euthanizing captive animals at private facilities.

The legal battle is ongoing, with a Florida appellate court ruling that the state is immune from unjust enrichment claims but not from inverse condemnation. A case management hearing is scheduled for May 19. The estimated value of Big Shirl and her unborn snakelets, some of which carried a rare genetic trait, could exceed $50,000, with McAdam suggesting it could be millions.