Updated: Owner of giant python slithering around Andover found, police say

Michael Stavola
·2 min read
25

Update Thursday:

The owner of the 15-foot python has been found, Andover police said.

Some people on social media thought the snake belonged to Tanganyika Wildlife Park, which has a similar looking snake that was featured on a Wichita TV station on Wednesday, but the Goddard park confirmed it is not their snake.

Original Wednesday:

Andover police Lt. Joe Hardy got one of the strangest calls he’s had in his decades in law enforcement Wednesday.

“I got a call that somebody had a giant, 10-foot-plus python in their yard,” he said. “I was thinking it would not be a python. So I went out there and I was like, ‘Wow, for once the reporting party is actually totally correct.’”

The 10-foot report was conservative. An animal handler who was then called guessed it was more like 15 feet.

Andover allows only snakes under 6 feet.

Hardy thinks the yellow and white snake is a Burmese python, which is native to southeast Asia. It’s believed the python is someone’s pet. The snakes eat mostly birds and small mammals.

The woman who called 911 was getting ready to walk her dog when she saw the python balled up next to her carport, Hardy said.

“She refused to come outside until the snake was long gone,” he said, adding that she also had to call into work, telling them she would be late.

Police were called at around 11:45 a.m. to the 100 block of North Thomas. A photo Andover police tweeted showed the snake extended out alongside the house, with what appears to be its head under the steps.

“No two days are the same on this job,” the tweet says. “If anyone in Andover is missing a 15 foot python, please contact the Andover Police Department!”

Police called Critter Control in Wichita to come get the snake. Hardy said the snake, which had minor injuries on its body, was then taken to a veterinarian.

Hardy said the snakes are expensive. He said police are not trying to get the owner in trouble but, assuming the person lives in the city, would work with them to get the snake relocated outside of city limits.

That person, Hardy said, can either call the police department or Critter Control at 855-500-4395.

“It’s definitely the strangest animal call I have been on,” he said. “I won’t forget this call for a long time.”