One big snake: 8-foot-long skin found in home yard garners attention

Published 10:36 am Thursday, October 5, 2017

Photo courtesy of the Boyle County Sheriff’s Office
A family found what is believed to be the shedding of an 8 foot python in their front yard on Wednesday. The snake has not been seen. Officials say they aren’t sure if it was a prank or if someone has released such a reptile in the area.

Snake skin is causing some stir in Danville. Specifically, one measuring about eight feet long found Tuesday in a yard on Lannock Drive near Millennium Park.

“I personally saw the skin and it’s real,” said Boyle County Sheriff Derek Robbins, who said he went to the home after the family called him.

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“The family called me because I know them. They said, ‘Can you come look at this? It looks unusual.’”

It was first spotted that morning before school, Robbins said, but they didn’t call until about 6:30 p.m.

Robbins said he took photos of the skin and contacted the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. He spoke with an officer in that agency and sent the photos.

“He said, ‘Pretty sure it’s a python,’” Robbins said. “We don’t know if it’s a joke or a pet that got away.”

Robbins said the reptile could be a pet and someone has decided to play a joke by laying the skin outside; it could be that the snake was someone’s pet and has gotten loose or been turned loose.

“(The Fish and Wildlife officer) did say this climate is not something that’s going to support their lifestyle. In a month or two, it’s going to die,” he said. “They’re not from here. It’s not going to survive when it gets cold.”

Photo courtesy of the Boyle County Sheriff’s Office
A family found what is believed to be the shedding of an 8 foot python in their front yard on Wednesday. The snake has not been seen. Officials say they aren’t sure if it was a prank or if someone has released such a reptile in the area.

Robbins searched for about two hours for the reptile, admitting it did have a 12-hour head start on him.

“The chances of you seeing it are slim and none,” he said.

As of right now, the “big snake” is not anticipated to be a risk to people, Robbins said, but it could be a danger to small pets if they are left unsupervised, especially at night.