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Escaped Boa Constrictor Named Pedro Causes Scare
5 Mar
Summary
- An escaped boa constrictor named Pedro caused a stir in South Florida.
- The 20-year-old snake was mistaken for a dangerous invasive python.
- Pedro is now safe at a rescue facility awaiting a new home.
A boa constrictor named Pedro made an unexpected escape from his owner's home in South Florida, leading to a brief scare within the community. The snake, approximately 5 to 7-feet long and 20 years old, was discovered on March 1. Its owner explained that the commotion surrounding his wife going into labor had inadvertently led to the snake's release.
Initially mistaken for a Burmese python, an invasive species in Florida, the boa constrictor faced potential harm. However, upon realizing Pedro was a pet boa constrictor, which is not a prohibited species, he was saved from a grim fate. Experts differentiate boa constrictors from pythons by their markings; boa constrictors have hourglass shapes, while pythons display bolder blotches.
Pedro was safely contained and is now at a rescue facility as of March 4. His owner's plans for their 20-year companion remain uncertain. Boa constrictors can be friendly pets if handled frequently, though they can bite when feeding. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Exotic Pet Amnesty Program could offer adoption solutions for Pedro.
