Deadly African snake turns up on Saco trail
Fortunately for the finder, the illegal-to-own, highly poisonous Gaboon viper had died from the cold.
By David Hench dhench@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer
Authorities are trying to learn how a deadly – and illegal – Gaboon viper came to be slithering along the wooded trails behind Cinemagic in Saco.
A dead Gaboon viper is displayed on the trunk of a Saco police car. The Maine Warden Service is trying to identify the snake’s owner.
Courtesy photo
Like some eerie escapee from "Avatar," playing inside the theater, the colorful viper stretched almost 5 feet and lay in the trail, much as the snakes do in their native sub-Saharan Africa as they lie in wait for prey.
But this one was dead, after succumbing to the cold of even a mild Maine winter night. The vipers prefer temperatures above 70 degrees; the temperature Sunday night dropped below freezing.
The snake was discovered Monday by someone who was walking along one of the trails behind the theater, on the edge of woods that stretch out extensively to the east of Route 1.
The person didn't handle the snake, but took a cell phone picture and then contacted police, who called in the Maine Warden Service.
"It appears it had been released alive, probably last night," said Sgt. Tim Spahr of the Maine Warden Service.
"Somebody, in their mind, was releasing it into the wild," Spahr said, noting that there are retention ponds in the woods, which might have seemed like good habitat.
The snake's release could land the owner in hot water.
"They're not legal in Maine. You could not get a permit for that," Spahr said. "I don't even know if they would be legal in the U.S."
He said such a snake would probably have to be purchased on the black market – or on the Internet.
"I also think if you're releasing something that is potentially dangerous or fatal to somebody, we would probably talk to the District Attorney's Office about other charges related to recklessness," Spahr said.
The warden service is investigating to determine who owned the snake, although Spahr would not elaborate.
He said wardens have encountered other exotic snakes, such as cobras and pit vipers, but never this species.
Gaboon vipers apparently are popular pets – as far as venomous snakes go. The snakes are can reach 7 feet long, with a hefty girth, and can appear sluggish but strike with blinding speed, according to the Web site www.VenomousReptiles.org. The site describes proper care and feeding for the pets.
The snakes have longer fangs and more venom than any other poisonous snake. They're also beautiful, with intricate geometric patterns in shades of brown.
And they are deadly. Some viper owners have died after being bitten and not getting immediate treatment with anti-venom.
Staff Writer David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:
dhench@pressherald.com
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25 COMMENTS
homeboy said...
I heard the sanke watched a Portland City council meeting, and then went belly up...
March 9, 2010 at 7:34 AM Report abuse
Justincase said...
A Gaboon viper once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.
March 9, 2010 at 7:42 AM Report abuse
golf said...
Poor thing !!! What a waste.
March 9, 2010 at 8:17 AM Report abuse
common_cents said...
I knew Catsome would turn up somewhere
March 9, 2010 at 8:21 AM Report abuse
common_cents said...
KraZyKAT has been found???
March 9, 2010 at 8:23 AM Report abuse
common_cents said...
Sounds like a job for Maine's animal rights' lawyers.
March 9, 2010 at 8:24 AM Report abuse
Bat said...
Nancy Pelosi was in town?
March 9, 2010 at 8:28 AM Report abuse
Mainepup said...
What kind of moron leaves a deadly snake outside where people walk their dogs? If that thing hadn't died of the cold someone could have died.
March 9, 2010 at 8:32 AM Report abuse
iliketobike said...
Yep, make sure to emphasize that the snake is from AFRICA...like the scary brown people and the "Africanized" bees that were all over the news a few years ago. Way to go, PPH, perpetuating an ugly media bias.
March 9, 2010 at 8:52 AM Report abuse
GURRY70 said...
iliketobike-please explain what is wrong with naming the native country of the snake???
March 9, 2010 at 9:52 AM Report abuse
Oak said...
iliketobike - If it had instead been a Taipan viper would you have been offended at a headline stating "Deadly Australian snake turns up on Saco trail"? Or would you be whining about ugly media bias against Aborigines? Seriously!
March 9, 2010 at 11:34 AM Report abuse
DiggityLand said...
there is nothing wrong with naming where the snake is from. it IS a deadly snake and it DID come from AFRICA. stop being racist.
March 9, 2010 at 11:36 AM Report abuse
backwrdstate said...
Mainepup said... What kind of moron leaves a deadly snake outside where people walk their dogs? If that thing hadn't died of the cold someone could have died.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I'd guess much the same sort of moron who brings a handgun to school in her purse. Maine is full of that type of moron.
March 9, 2010 at 1:06 PM Report abuse
Taxpayer said...
Hey backwrdstate, Let's see, a deadly poisonous snake on the loose or a teacher with a gun? I side with the teacher so we can both shoot the snake before it kills some innocent person. Then we find the MORON who illegally brought the snake here and send him/her to the proper authorities.
March 9, 2010 at 1:24 PM Report abuse
iliketobike said...
GURRY70 said... iliketobike-please explain what is wrong with naming the native country of the snake??? Africa is a continent, not a country, genius.
March 9, 2010 at 1:38 PM Report abuse
MeJeepNut said...
So we have an illegal snake that probably died in someones home during the last power outage that was dumped along some trail in Saco. This has some how turned into rantings about/by racists and about someone bringing a gun into a school in a purse.....I don't get it.....
March 9, 2010 at 2:20 PM Report abuse
bdawg said...
Hey iliketobike...I have 3 basenjis (primitive dogs from the Congo). Am I racist when I tell people they are from Africa? Givemeabreak!
March 9, 2010 at 3:19 PM Report abuse
heyjoe said...
THANK YOU CATHOLIC CHARITIES!!!! Trying to be funny....
March 9, 2010 at 4:02 PM Report abuse
WestbrookJ said...
So this will be another endangered species in Maine?
March 9, 2010 at 4:48 PM Report abuse
gle said...
Dead snake? Probably that Boland gal from Sanford.(The one with the cell phone warning idea)
March 9, 2010 at 5:35 PM Report abuse
joys said...
I believe ALL boxes should be scanned before being delivered for such things as this....
March 9, 2010 at 9:45 PM Report abuse
Pamela057 said...
I can't believe a person would leave a snake so dangerous in an area where people walk...I'm sure its owner must be educated enough to know how dangerous it was...I do hope they find him but how I don't know.
March 10, 2010 at 5:46 AM Report abuse
heyjoe said...
Bob Baldacci showed up!
March 10, 2010 at 6:01 AM Report abuse
Iwatch said...
It must be that nutty people own nutty-type pets. No offense to the snake.
March 10, 2010 at 9:20 AM Report abuse
Klown said...
Who's the buffoon who owned the gaboon. I hope the cops will tell us soon!
March 10, 2010 at 12:53 PM Report abuse