WESTBROOK — The giant snake on the loose in Westbrook could be a very large rate snake — not a python as first thought.
The snake was first spotted months ago, and police say over the weekend, someone found the skin of a large snake in the woods along the bank of the Presumpscot River.
Westbrook Police laid the snakeskin out end-to-end and measured it. Turned out it was 12 feet, 1 inch long.
Westbrook’s Mayor says they sent photos and a sample of the snakeskin to an expert at the University of Texas, who says he believes Wessie could be a rat snake, not a phython. He says rat snakes are harmless to humans unless cornered.
That doesn’t comfort people who use the park. Police have warned them to keep a close eye on children and pets.
Anya Belmach brought her 18-month-old son to Riverbank Park, not realizing a large snake might be on the loose. “It’s dangerous,” Belmach said. “It’s definitely dangerous. But I wish it will be caught.”
Police say dozens of people have tried to find Wessie. Now, they’ve called in an expert.
“There’s going to be a crypto zoologist that comes out in the next couple of weeks, and he said he’s going to look at it maybe with some thermal-imaging camera,” Capt. Sean Lally said.
Part of the skin has been sent off DNA testing to determine the exact species. Testing will be complete in a few weeks.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story