‘Don't panic!’ Residents in south of France commune warned of boa constrictor on the loose
The albino boa is not venomous, but residents in town in Hérault advised not to approach it
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Residents in a commune in southern France have been warned to keep an eye out for a boa constrictor on the loose after the animal escaped its owner.
The albino boa escaped over the weekend in Saint-André-de-Sangonis, in Hérault, with the animal last reported in the area around the Chemin de la Peyre, close to the centre.
The mairie issued a warning on Facebook on September 1, informing residents of the situation and telling them not to panic if they come across it as the snake “only hunts rodents.”
“Don't panic!! This one isn't venomous and only hunts rodents; moreover, it was fed very recently,” it said on its Facebook post.
The snake is described as an albino specimen with a distinctive yellow-orange colour. According to the mairie, it is socialised and only moves around at night.
However, residents were still advised to keep their pets on leads and close doors and windows.
“If you see it, don’t intervene,” the mairie instructed.
Instead, anyone who comes across it is advised to contact the police municipale at 06 82 57 17 58, the gendarmerie at 17 or the fire department at 18.
The mairie also added that it would provide further information as soon as possible.
Boa constrictors are non-venomous snakes that subdue their prey by constriction. They don’t have fangs but their mouths can stretch long enough to swallow their prey whole. They generally feed on small mammals and birds.
The snake can be kept as a pet in France, as it is classified as a NAC (nouveaux animaux de compagnie), subject to applicable regulations and registration requirements.
In France, the term NAC refers to pets that are not dogs or cars, including animals such as reptiles, birds, rodents and certain exotic species.
