Ball python spotted in Kananaskis Country prompts warning

A warning has been issued in Kananaskis Country after a 1.5-metre-long ball python was spotted in Bow Valley Provincial Park on the past weekend.

The large snake, which is native to Africa, is not venomous. However, Alberta Parks officials say they can be a threat to wild animals and small pets, as well as a problem for ecosystems and biodiversity in the province.

Officials say the serpent was spotted "well away from campgrounds and facilities." They are asking anyone who sees the snake to call Kananaskis Emergency Services at 403-591-7755.

Sheri Monk, owner of Snakes on a Plain in Redcliff, Alta., says generally it's quite rare to learn of snakes not native to Alberta slithering around in the wild.

"You hear of it occasionally. Typically, it's the result of an irresponsible pet owner that no longer wants to take care of the snake," said Monk, whose company is licensed to handle and relocate snakes in Alberta. "Or perhaps, they've had a roommate, or whatever the situation is — it wasn't their snake — and they were just not sure what to do with it."

Monk says there is a small chance it could have been an accident

"It's a strange world, and maybe somebody wanted to take their snake camping with them? I don't know" she said. "We may never know, unless that original pet owner comes forward."

Ball pythons are common pets, according to Monk, and the likelihood of the snakes being abandoned in the wild is increased by the prominence of the species in the pet trade. She adds the snake likely won't survive an Alberta winter in the wild.

"We think of reptiles as being cold-blooded, which is true, they do need the environment to warm themselves up. But the flip side of that is that they can't overheat, so they also have to use the environment to keep their bodies cool enough as well," Monk said. "Just like us, they have a temperature range — too hot is not good and too cold is not good."

Monk says ball pythons, especially this one, don't pose much of a threat to the public. They prey upon rodents or small rabbits, but there is a very slim chance it could eat a small dog. She adds Alberta has its own native serpent species, the bullsnake, that can grow up to about 2.75 metres in length — much bigger than ball pythons.