A live snake was captured by a worker on a Maui coffee farm on July 1, the state Department of Agriculture reports. ADVERTISING A live snake was captured by a worker on a Maui coffee farm on July 1, the
A live snake was captured by a worker on a Maui coffee farm on July 1, the state Department of Agriculture reports.
The snake was reported to the department and a plant quarantine inspector picked up the snake, which was later identified as a nonvenomous ball python.
The snake measured about 3-4 feet long and was euthanized on Maui because of its condition. It is not known how the snake got to the farm, which is located in Kaanapali.
Ball pythons are nonvenomous and are common in the pet trade on the mainland. They are native to Western and West-Central Africa and are related to boas, which are also constrictors that subdue its prey by coiling around and suffocating it. Its diet usually consists of small mammals and birds. Ball pythons may grow up to 6-feet long.
Snakes have no natural predators in Hawaii and pose a serious threat to Hawaii’s environment, according to the department. Many species also prey on birds and their eggs, increasing the threat to endangered native birds. Large snakes can also be a danger to the public and small pets.
Individuals who see or know of illegal animals in Hawaii are encouraged to contact the state’s toll-free PEST HOTLINE at 643-PEST (7378).
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