Experts say Quebec pythons on the lam won’t survive dip in temperatures

Local police spokesman Normand Brulotte said the orange and beige snake is less than one metre long and is not venomous.

It is believed to be trying to find a warm place to hide.

“The specialists have told us that with colder nights, the chances of survival are slim,” said Brulotte. “They need a lot of heat so it won’t survive too long on the streets.”

The snake is the second to have disappeared in the Montreal area since late August.

A royal python by the name of “Lady” was reported missing on Aug. 25 after escaping from a home in the Montreal’s Verdun borough.

Lady was seen a few days later but gave animal-control officials the slip after they thought they had it cornered under a home.

Royal pythons, also known as ball pythons, are not considered dangerous and often eat small rodents. They are generally kept as pets in a terrarium or enclosure, Loyst said.

When snakes are on the loose, they are not necessarily looking to secure their freedom, Loyst added.

“A ball python that gets out doesn’t necessarily want to get outside, it just wants to go somewhere that is fairly warm and comfortable and wait for food to come along,” said Loyst.

Snakes can go long periods without eating — months and months in some cases. Most pet pythons are fed weekly by their owners.

Even current temperatures are cold for snakes who originate from Africa.

“He’s probably not looking to eat, he’s probably just looking to hide,” Loyst said, referring to the Saint-Eustache snake whose gender has not been identified.

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Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Experts say Quebec pythons on the lam won’t survive dip in temperatures

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