Hunt still on for rogue boa constrictor that could threaten kids and pets
<p>A snake catcher has issued a warning after a missing boa constrictor is on the loose in Sydney’s west. The reptile could pose a danger to a small child, cat or dog as authorities rush to locate the snake.</p>
<p>The snake, which is estimated to be 2.5 metres long, was residing on a property on Torumba Circuit in Silverdale yesterday before it made its escape.</p>
<p>The final clue left by the constrictor was freshly-shed snakeskin, found hanging from timber at a construction site inside Cascade Estates.</p>
<p>Sean Cade, a local snake catcher working with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to locate the whereabouts of the serpent said the creature could be a credible danger to residents in the area.</p>
<p>“This is a 2.5 metre snake, it’s the thickness of my calf muscle. It is quite a big, heavy robust snake and these guys take down prey four times their size so it’s quite easy to take a full-size cat, a small-size dog, a rabbit, guinea pig – that sort of thing,” he said.</p>
<p>“It depends on what it was fed during captivity, is what it’ll be chasing.</p>
<p>“If it comes across a small child, that’ll be the concern DPI and myself have. We’re just worried it’s going to get into a backyard and potentially a kid might startle it and the snake could lunge out and grab it.”</p>
<p>Mr Cade said that ever since news broke out of the escaped snake, he’s been hit with multiple calls from concerned residents.</p>
<p>“It’s still ongoing, obviously with this reptile on the loose some backyards are in danger of encountering this thing,” he said.</p>
<p>“I had a couple of calls last night about a guy who had a couple of dachshunds, he was worried about his sausage dogs.</p>
<p>“A couple of other people heard noises in their roof, so I had to crawl around their roof space last night looking for this snake.</p>
<p>Boa constrictors are illegal in New South Wales outside of zoos.</p>
<p>The DPI said they were a “serious threat” to wildlife and humans.</p>
