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Cumbria snake hunt: Police search for eight foot boa constrictor after reptile escaped its home in Whitehaven Escaped eight-foot boa constrictor on loose in Cumbria after slipping away from Whitehaven home
(about 2 hours later)
Police are hunting an escaped eight foot boa constrictor after it slipped away from its owners in Cumbria on Friday evening. Police are hunting an escaped eight-foot boa constrictor after it slipped away from its owners in Cumbria.
The non-venomous snake, which is a household pet, escaped its home in Kells, Whitehaven, after it was left momentarily unattended while being cleaned, Cumbria police said. The non-venomous snake, which is a household pet, found it way out of the home in Kells, Whitehaven, after it was left momentarily unattended while being cleaned, Cumbria police said.
The boa constrictor, one of the biggest snakes in the world, is known for the way it kills its prey which is to wrap itself around an animal and suffocate it. The boa constrictor, one of the biggest snakes in the world, kills its prey by wrapping itself around the animal and suffocating it.
Boa constrictors, anacondas and some other pythons are thought to cut off the blood supply of prey A Cumbria police spokesperson said: “The animal does not pose an immediate risk to the public, however if sighted advice is not to approach it and to contact police immediately.”  Boa constrictors, anacondas and some other pythons are thought to cut off the blood supply of prey A Cumbria police spokesperson said: "The animal does not pose an immediate risk to the public, however if sighted advice is not to approach it and to contact police immediately." 
This is not the first time a boa constrictor has escaped its owner in the UK. It is not the first time a boa constrictor has escaped its owner in the UK.
In July last year police in Lancashire warned that small children could be at risk after an eight foot boa constrictor went missing from a home in Skelmersdale. In July last year police in Lancashire warned that small children could be at risk after an eight-foot boa constrictor went missing from a home in Skelmersdale.
In Bristol, it took three hours to extract a five foot boa constrictor from behind a car dashboard after it had escaped its owner’s rucksack on the way to the vets.In Bristol, it took three hours to extract a five foot boa constrictor from behind a car dashboard after it had escaped its owner’s rucksack on the way to the vets.
A year earlier a five foot boa constrictor known as ‘Petzy’ was reported missing after it escaped from a house in Merseyside. A year earlier, a five-foot boa constrictor known as ‘Petzy’ was reported missing after it escaped from a house in Merseyside.
Anyone who sees the snake is asked to contact police on 101.Anyone who sees the snake is asked to contact police on 101.