Police warn residents of python on the loose in Camden

Camden police are warning the public that a large ball python is on the loose somewhere in the Knox County town.

“The PD this morning wants to make everyone aware that a ball python has gotten out of its enclosure and is most likely roaming the area on Sea Street,” the Camden Police Department said in a post Monday morning on its Facebook page.

In the post, the department attached a 2-year-old photo of Camden Police Chief Randy Gagne holding the snake while wearing protective gloves. Two years ago, the snake escaped and was captured by police.

“The snake now is approximately 4 to 5 feet in length,” the Facebook post said.

The Facebook post and snake photo had generated more than 100 comments as of Monday evening.

“Why in the name of all that is holy would these snakes be allowed to keep as ‘pets,’ ” one woman wrote. “Glad that I don’t live there! Yikes,” another woman commented.

The ball python snake, also known as the royal python, is a nonvenomous constrictor snake. It is the smallest of the African pythons and is popular in the pet trade due to its small size and docile temperament. Its name comes from the snake curling into a ball when stressed or frightened.

Ball pythons in captivity feed on rodents, which can be fed frozen, thawed or “pre-killed,” according to Reptiles Magazine.

Anyone who spots the snake is encouraged to contact the Knox County Communications Center at 236-3030.

A county dispatcher said the ball python was still at large Monday night.