Large snake remains at large in Kitchener Thursday

Residents with small pets may want to keep an eye out for a large snake that remains at large in the Mill Street and Courtland Avenue area of Kitchener.

• Burmese python on the loose in Kitchener, confirms KW Humane Society

"It's definitely not going to look like your average [garter] snake or corn snake outside. So you're going to notice the difference if you see it," said Kathy Innocente, director of operations for the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society.

"It's about six feet long, so as far as a constrictor goes, it's an average size."

The snakeis believed to be a Burmese python, a type of constrictor, andhas been missing since Tuesday evening. There was a sighting around 9 p.m. Wednesday night, but it was still on the lam Thursday morning.

'A pretty nasty bite'

Reports have varied on the kind of snake that has gone missing, but Innocente said it is believed to be a Burmese python. The snakes are atype of constrictor whichkill theirprey by squeezing it.

The snake can and will still bite, especially if hungry, she said.It's not venomous, but "it's a pretty nasty bite," she said.

For that reason, people are advised not to approach the snake.

She said it's unclear how far the snake may have travelled since it went missing, but from sightings, it doesn't appear to have strayed far from home.

"When it is warm outside during the day, they're going to travel a little bit," Innocente said. "They're going to look for a warm place to lay down and they're going to look for food. That's what they do."

Snake was unregistered

The snake is allowed under Kitchener's bylaw, but all snakes that are expected to grow more than two metres long, must be registered with the humane society.

This snake was not registered, Innocente said.

According to the bylaw, owners must follow certain rules to ensure a snake is kept safe and they are supposed to call officials if it gets out.Charges can be laid under the bylaw, Innocente said.

In this case, it is unclear how the snake got out, she added. Humane society officials are still waiting to speak to the owner.

Pet owners shouldbe aware

Area residents with pets should be vigilant, said Innocente."Rodents, squirrels, couldn't say whether a cat wouldn't be something they would look at so definitely, small pets."

The Australia Zoo saidBurmese pythonsare nocturnal hunters and can ambush their prey with a sit and wait technique. In the wild they tend to eat small mammals, up to the size of a pig or small deer.

In their natural habitat, they live near water and will inhabit grasslands, marshes and swamps.

The National Park Service in the U.S. said the exotic pet business has seen nearly 112,000 Burmese pythons importedto that country since 1990.

They have become a big problem, particularly in Florida where the snakesnow inhabit the Everglades.

The Lake Erie Nature and Science Centre notedthe snakes can grow to more than six metres and more than 90 kg.