Burmese python (left) and ball python
Snake keeping is a popular hobby in Florida, and unfortunately not everyone who keeps snakes is well informed about their proper care or housing. Escaped reptile pets are sometimes found on nuisance wildlife complaints. Common pet snakes in Florida are Burmese pythons both normal colored and albino, ball pythons, boa constrictors, various color phases of corn snakes or rat snakes, king snakes and milk snakes. If you find an escaped exotic snake on a nusiance wildlife call, you may want to check with the immediate neighbors to find out who's lost their pet. It's your call whether or not you should give it back, however - it is extremely irresponsible for pet owners not to provide secure housing for such animals, and you may prefer to turn the snake over to local wildlife authorities.
Burmese python (left) and ball python
Escaped venomous snakes are not known to be a common problem, but venomous snakes may present in a private or zoological collection at an investigation scene. Officers may be able to recognize many commonly kept pet snakes, but keep in mind that there are several exotic venomous snakes which look very much like harmless snakes. If the identity of a snake is at all in question, it is better not to handle it or to call a local snake expert to secure the animal.
One of the snakes above is a common California kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus), and the other is a banded krait (Bungarus multicinctus). This snake comes from China, and is occasionally imported to Florida for local venomous snake keepers. Can you tell which is which? Click on the images to find out - and remember that in real life, snakes don't wear hyperlinks.
