Six foot boa constrictor spotted coughing up blood near quiet village

A GROUP of villagers were left horrified after a six-foot-long snake was spotted crawling down a country lane and coughing up blood.

On Friday, the huge creature, later identified as a Boa Constrictor, was found near Roden, Shropshire.

The bloody snake was found by a group of motorists

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The bloody snake was found by a group of motoristsCredit: SWNS
The huge boa constrictor had broken its jaw

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The huge boa constrictor had broken its jawCredit: SWNS

A response team from the RSPCA were called to the bloody scene after the wounded snake was found with a broken jaw by two motorists at around 4pm.

The reptile was then taken to a veterinarian and given pain relief, but he died later in the night.

Residents were afraid to hear that a body of another snake, of similar size, was found nearby. This raised concerns about the possibility that the road could be used to dump exotic pets.

Residents living in the village have since spoken of their fear – claiming they are now concerned about letting their children or pets roam outdoors amid the snake epidemic.

One local wrote on social media: “Is it just me or is this freaking anybody else out? I don’t want live 6ft snakes slithering around the village.”

Another added: “This is literally the stuff of my nightmares. My skin is crawling just thinking about it.”

One resident joked “Where’s Samuel L when you need him?” but another put: “This really isn’t funny. I’m concerned for my kids and dog. These animals can attack.”

Another concurred: “Exactly, they will be hungry. And that’s why I don’t want to let my pet out. These animals can be brutal killers and would target something small.”

Boa constrictors use they jaws – which are lined with hooked teeth – for grabbing and holding prey before squeezing them to the point of suffocation.

Boas are said to “eat almost anything” they can catch in the wild – including birds, monkeys, and wild pigs.

While they aren’t venomous their jaws can open wide enough to swallow prey large.

The local RSPCA has concluded that both reptiles were intentionally abandoned in the area.

A spokesman said: “Normally when we get a call like this we find the snake has been misidentified and it’s actually a small native species, so we were very surprised when we arrived and saw a six-foot boa constrictor on the road.

“It’s very sad that this beautiful creature’s life ended like this.

“Sadly we think this snake was probably abandoned as it’s a very isolated location and there are no houses around for at least a mile.

“The discovery of the body of another snake close by also leads us to believe that someone has deliberately left them.”

The snake was just one of many found dead in the area over the past few weeks

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The snake was just one of many found dead in the area over the past few weeksCredit: SWNS

The findings follow a 2016 report that found that snakes were being abandoned in Britain because owners cannot look after them and set them free.

Peter Yarde, RSPCA’s animal welfare officer, spoke out in 2016 warning of the dangers associated with exotic pets.

Although exotic animals are more expensive and difficult to care for, they still need the same basic needs as wild animals. This is required by the Animal Welfare Act.

He stated that buyers who don’t do their research may not be able to deal with their pet’s full size, aggression, longer life expectancy, or need to file paperwork to legally keep or sell it.

The sellers may not provide vital tips for caring for exotic pets and it can be difficult to find them online.

“Information is available atwww.rspca.org.uk, to help potential buyers make an informed decision.”

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