Pythons in Maine (Portland: neighborhood, college, live)

[Maine Writer]

When I get up in the morning I start the coffee, pull on my Mucks and head out to the barn and garden. It's been cool for warm weather crops so I put the roll up sides down on the greenhouse yesterday morning. It was warm in there just before sunrise this morning. I picked a couple of tomatoes, reached down to pull a weed and ACK! a snake! It was huge, more than 2' long.

Now I'm watching the news. Last week a woman found an 8' reticulated python in her washing machine. Today's news tells of a man who found a 9' reticulated python on the engine of his truck. My huge snake kinda seems like an inch worm now.

What's up with the pythons? Maybe people are worried about getting caught with them?

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I have a picture of me with a live 16 foot Burmese python draped over my shoulders. His name was Reptilius Minimus and he belonged to the SEALs at a place called Nha Be in the Mekong Delta. They had another python named Reptlitius Maximus who was 20 feet long. Our flight surgeon had the biggest one though. Doctor No was 22 feet long and lived under the hospital.

That was long ago and far away.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

I have a picture of me with a live 16 foot Burmese python draped over my shoulders. His name was Reptilius Minimus and he belonged to the SEALs at a p[lace called Nha Be in the Mekong Delta. They had another python named Reptlitius Maximus who was 20 feet long. Our flight surgeon had the biggest one though. Doctor No was 22 feet long and lived under the hospital.

That was long ago and far away.

Those were some BIG reptiles! Cool! While I have never owned a snake and will not, I do not mind them in general and often have held them while their owners cleaned cages, etc. The first time was a bit of a surprise... for those who have never felt a snake, the are not cold and slimy... well they may feel cool to the touch, as they do not maintain their own body temperature.. but imagine a snakeskin belt or purse that is very flexible, with muscles inside <g>. I honestly prefer the larger snakes I have held to the smaller ones; their quick motions make me much more nervous than the slower pace of the boas I have known.

finding one in an unexpected place, though, is a bit disconcerting... I am just glad they are not likely to be the rattlesnakes that I am familiar with from the west.

[mollysmiles]

I had a friend in college who had a boa....his name was Jake, yes I know, not very original right? I didn't mind holding him, and in general I've not minded snakes. BUT to find one that large unexpectedly would probably not go over well with me....and that's an understatement.

It does make me think a little differently about caching, Robin!

[Maine Writer]

Caching? I already don't like reaching into hidey holes and under roots! Now you bring up snakes. Make sure you bring your gloves next time we go. Maybe Tami and MaineMathTchr won't read this and we can get them to do the reaching and poking! I'll hold the GPS and tell them when they're getting closer. <grin>

[mollysmiles]

chicken!

[Maineah]

The Portland paper said the python came down the water pipe into the lady's washing machine. How does an 8 foot long snake squeeze through a 1/2 inch water line, through the line screen, through the impeller in the water pump and emerge in the washing machine intact? Spare me! It crawled in through the cover!

[bringselpup]

Aah well you know those reporter types, probably can't tell the difference between the feed lines and the vent stack going out the roof.

Originally Posted by Maineah

The Portland paper said the python came down the water pipe into the lady's washing machine. How does an 8 foot long snake squeeze through a 1/2 inch water line, through the line screen, through the impeller in the water pump and emerge in the washing machine intact? Spare me! It crawled in through the cover!

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by bringselpup

Aah well you know those reporter types, probably can't tell the difference between the feed lines and the vent stack going out the roof.

I believe it! Maybe the neighborhood kids didn't like the lady and gave her a scare??

[bringselpup]

And the snake ain't talkin!

Originally Posted by Maineah

I believe it! Maybe the neighborhood kids didn't like the lady and gave her a scare??