A hunter targeting feral pigs recently on the Hawaiian island of Oahu returned from the wilderness with a live 4-foot ball python.
The surprising find, in the Kahaluu forest, is alarming because Hawaii has no native snakes, and invasive snakes pose a substantial threat to native animal populations.
It’s illegal to bring snakes into Hawaii, and to possess them as pets.
The hunter delivered the python to the Hawaiian Humane Society, which turned the reptile over to quarantine inspectors with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, according to the Star Advertiser.
Hawaii News Now reports that the snake was turned in on May 26.
Ball pythons are non-venomous constrictors native to Western and West-Central Africa. They prey largely on small animals and birds, and can measure six feet.
The reptiles are common in the mainland pet trade, and it’s likely that this python was smuggled into Hawaii to become a pet, and escaped or was set free.
Hawaii residents who possess snakes can voluntarily turn them in without legal consequences under the state’s Amnesty Program. (A nearly 5-foot ball python was turned in under the program in January 2017.)
Those found to be in possession of illegal wildlife in Hawaii can be fined up to $200,000 and sentenced up to five years in jail.
–Ball python images are courtesy of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture