Residents warned: boa constrictor on the loose in Silverdale
The State Government has warned Silverdale residents to be on the lookout for a deadly boa constrictor on the loose in the area. SUBSCRIBE TO READ MORE.
Penrith
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A large boa constrictor is on the loose in Silverdale.
On behalf of Wollondilly Council, the Department of Planning has sent letters to residents after the skin of a large boa constrictor was found at a construction site in Cascades Estate last Wednesday.
The site was closed down.
A council spokesman said the large snake skin was found on the building site and the council is working with local land authorities to help track down the snake.
Boa constrictors are illegal in Australia and are not permitted to be kept outside of a zoo.
The council spokesman said there will be an investigation to find the origin of the snake.
“At this time we are focusing on raising community awareness, as boa constrictor’s are quite dangerous and pose a great threat to adults, children and animals,” the spokesman said.
Boa constrictors can grow to be 14 feet long and tend to stick to the edges or clearings.
They are most often found near rivers or streams, however they are also known to hide in spaces such as vents or in grassed areas.
Freya Cade, co-owner of Australian Snake Catchers which operates out of St Clair, has been called on to search for the snake after the skin was found.
She said the snake has likely taken refuge in a burrow.
“Boa constrictors generally like swampy areas and tend to look for rainforest type areas,” Ms Cade said.
“They will also take advantage of burrows that other animals have made.
“They have been known to go into houses, but generally will only enter a home if a door or window is left open.”
She said looking at the skin, it’s about a two-metre (6.5 feet) long snake.
After more than five days of searching, Ms Cade likened the search to finding a needle in a haystack.
“In an ideal world we would love to catch it so that it doesn’t pose a threat to people or wildlife, but it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack and it will come down to luck.
“The snake will most likely be looking for properties with small livestock like chickens or rabbits, as that is what it likes to feed on.”
Chad Staples, the director of life sciences at Featherdale Wildlife Park, deals with a variety of different animals.
He said boa constrictors are a unique animal in the way they attack their prey, so pose a great threat to the community.
“It depends on how big and how aggressive the snake is, however the good news is that they are not venomous,” Mr Staples said.
“The bad news is that the prey of a boa constrictor can be quite significant in size, so under no circumstances should people approach the snake.”
Mr Staples said given the size of the skin, adults should be on alert.
“A boa constrictor’s way of killing is by constriction, which can be terrifying to even a grown adult,” he said.
“If the snake is aggressive, even a grown adult would not be able to fight it off.”
Anyone who sees the snake is urged to contact triple-0 immediately.