Video: Starkville Boa Snake Still Loose

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STARKVILLE, Miss.(WCBI)–Still no sign of an exotic snake that crawled away from it’s owners at their Garrard Road location.

Starkville animal control officers are doing their best to keep residents calm, especially since that large red tail boa remains on the loose and could be resting in trees somewhere.

“This is not an aggressive species of snake. We feel it will not feed on anything any larger than a common ground squirrel or common tree squirrel. And we just don’t feel like there is any danger to the public,” said SGT Andy Fultz/Starkville Police.

Its not uncommon, at least a couple of the slithering pets can be seen moving on the ground. In this case the boa is more at home in trees. For ten years now MSU Student Nicholas Briggs has owned a beautiful corn snake. Briggs says its a low maintenance pet.

“Its cheaper than a dog. You don’t have to worry about it making messes everywhere. They also don’t smell that bad, except whenever they you know defecate,” said Nicholas Briggs/MSU Student.

Starkville animal control officers having been in touch with exotic animal experts, think that recent cold temperatures under 50 degrees may have resulted in health problems that could be fatal to the reptile.

“We’re just glad this particular owner was responsible enough to give us a call and let us know the situation so that we could go and assist and start trying to look for it early,” said Andy Fultz.

“Thats just one thing you got to worry about. Even my corn snake tries to wrestle out of its tank. And its just a small thing in comparison,” said Nicholas Briggs.

Starkville city ordinances do allow for exotic pets like this boa, experts say may have wondered some where within 100 feet from where it went missing.

“It shouldn’t pose any danger to people. I think people base a lot of their fears on what they see on tv. Late night movies and what not. And that’s just not going to be the case with this snake,” said Richard McKee/SPD Animal Control.

Again don’t look on the ground for this reptile, it loves high trees. Starkville residents should do two things; keep looking up, and if they spot a 7 foot boa, call the police.