Richard Wood was putting up a fence near Raeford, North Carolina, when an object he believed had been left on the ground turned out to be a six-to-seven-foot boa constrictor.
Wood was working along Calloway Road in Hoke County on Wednesday, November 4, when he noticed the non-venomous snake. He told local broadcaster WRAL that its appearance initially caused some confusion.
“Lo and behold, it wasn’t a fence post; it was a snake,” Wood said.
The reptile had escaped from an outdoor enclosure a few houses away in early October and had been missing for nearly a month. Its disappearance had led to alerts being issued by the Hoke County Animal Shelter.
Wood said his wife had continued to worry about the animal, while he had repeatedly told her that it was unlikely to have survived for so long in the neighbourhood.
“Lo and behold, she was right, and I was wrong, so that’s not unusual,” he joked.
The discovery came as the snake joined a series of reptiles found in unexpected locations. With animal control officers still around 30 minutes away, Wood contacted a friend who keeps large snakes for advice.
The friend told him the boa was docile and “probably won’t bite you”.
Hoke County Animal Control Director Kristi Pylant had previously warned local residents not to approach or handle the escaped snake. However, Wood and his daughter, Peyton, decided to try to move it into a plastic Rubbermaid storage tub while waiting for officials to arrive.
Peyton held the snake by its tail, while Wood guided the rest of its body into the container. The pair managed to secure it before animal control officers and local snake handler Matthew “Mountain Matt” George arrived to take charge of the animal.
The Hoke County Animal Shelter later thanked Wood and the wildlife handlers in a Facebook update. It confirmed that the snake had been safely contained and was being returned to its home.
“The slithery escape artist is safely secured and officially on its way home,” the shelter said.
