Snakes, facts and information

Stunning Video Shows 'Menacing' 40-Pound Boa Constrictor Snake Captured

The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department (MDFR) recently shared a stunning video of one of its officers handling a large boa constrictor in a residential neighborhood.

The video posted to Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday shows Lieutenant Christopher Pecori from the department's Venom One response unit using a tarp to wrap up and capture the 8 foot, 40 pound red-tailed boa constrictor.

The snake, an invasive species native to Central and South America, was "menacing" a group of peafowl when it was captured and removed from the residential area. The animal was "endorsed over to Florida Fish and Wildlife authorities for further processing," according to the MDFR in its Instagram post.

"On Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 12:09 p.M., Lt. Christopher Pecori from the Venom One Response team encountered an invasive red-tailed boa constrictor in the middle of a roadway in Palmetto Bay," the department's Instagram post stated. "A distress call had alerted MDFR about a sizable python on the road that was menacing a group of peafowl, showcasing the danger they pose to local wildlife. The Venom One Response officer promptly headed to the scene and recognized the formidable serpent as an invasive red tail boa constrictor, measuring about eight feet in length and weighing around 40 pounds. Skillfully capturing the snake, the officer safely secured it in a large tarp."

Newsweek reached out to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for additional comments on the capture.

Boa constrictors are not illegal to own in Florida despite their invasive species status.

In their native range, red-tailed boas can reach lengths of up to 13 feet, although they rarely exceed 8 feet, according to the FWC.

Red-tailed boas are common in the pet trade. However, because numerous pet snakes have escaped or been released the boas have been able to establish stable populations in Miami-Dade County since the 1970s.

"They can live well over 20 years and get up to 12-plus feet in length," an email response from the Venom Response team stated. "They are very common in the pet trade/sales industry due to their mild temperament and attractive colorations. The problem is they will often outgrow their keepers' capabilities and get released."

Boa constrictors can decimate populations of small native vertebrates, and also outcompete other predators for food, impacting local ecosystems.

"The Venom Response team usually responds to one or two calls a year where these animals are spotted," the email response to Newsweek stated. "This particular animal captured on December 13 weighed in as one of the larger Boas that we have recovered."

According to the Florida Museum of History, boa constrictors may bite to defend themselves. Larger ones have large, sharp teeth, and their bites can cause severe lacerations. They are also capable of eating dogs and cats.

In Florida, boa constrictors have been found in diverse habitats, including residential neighborhoods. The snakes may be found on the ground or in trees. Boa constrictors are nocturnal and usually remain well hidden in dense vegetation or burrows during the day to avoid detection, according to the Florida Museum of History.

In April, a police officer in Clearwater, Florida, removed a 5 foot boa constrictor from a local business. In footage of the incident, shared to Facebook by the Clearwater Police Department, the officer can be seen coaxing the snake out from behind the window bars in the business' storeroom.

If you see a snake, the best thing to do is to call in a local snake catcher or alert your local authority.

Update 12/18/23, 5:42 p.M. ET: This article has been updated to add comments from the Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue Department Venom Response Team.

The patterned Columbian red-tailed boa constrictor, found in South America, is seen. The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department (MDFR) recently shared a stunning video of one of its officers handling a large boa constrictor in a residential neighborhood. AFP/Getty Images

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Florida Firefighter Captures 40-pound Boa Constrictor 'menacing' Peafowl In Middle Of Road: Video

A 40-pound boa constrictor was captured in the middle of a road in Florida last week after firefighters got a call about the invasive snake threatening a group of peafowl, officials said.

A distress call had alerted fire officials about a "sizable python" that was "menacing" the peafowl around noon Wednesday in Palmetto, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said.

Officials said when Lt. Christopher Pecori from the department's Venom One Response team arrived at the scene, he identified the snake as a red tail boa constrictor, which is a species non-native to Florida.

"The Venom One Response officer promptly headed to the scene and recognized the formidable serpent as an invasive Red Tail Boa Constrictor, measuring about eight feet in length and weighing around 40 pounds," the department wrote on Instagram.

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The 8-foot, 40-pound red tail boa was "menacing" a group of unsuspecting peafowl in Palmetto, Florida, fire officials said. (Miami-Dade Fire Rescue )

The department released video of the lieutenant "skillfully" capturing the snake in a tarp as the peafowl congregated nearby. Officials said the encounter showcased "the danger [the red tail boa constrictors] pose to local wildlife."

A member of the Venom One Response team captured the snake using a tarp. (Miami-Dade Fire Rescue )

The invasive snake was removed from the residential area and will be handed over to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for "further processing," fire officials said. 

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The boa constrictor is native to Central and South America but appears to have been breeding in Florida for at least 10 years, according to the FWC.

The snake was removed from the residential area and given over to wildlife authorities for "further processing," according to fire officials. (Miami-Dade Fire Rescue )

The University of Florida Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation says on its website that the snake was introduced in southern Florida  likely as a result of "the unethical and illegal release of pet snakes," and has established a population in Miami-Dade County, 

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The red tail boa can give birth to 15 to 40 live young. The species eats lizards, birds, and mammals both on the ground and in trees, according to the FWC.

Fire Rescue Officer Makes Amazing Capture Of Boa Constrictor On Road

A distress call about a "python" on the road led the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to send a Venom One Response officer, who captured what turned out to be a red tail boa constrictor, doing so with amazing ease.

The officer obviously had done this before, as he quickly wrapped the invasive creature in a blanket and hauled it away as peacocks stood around close by and watched the proceedings.

The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue posted video of the impressive capture on its Facebook page.

Viewers on Facebook were impressed with the capture by the officer.

"Nice work," one wrote. "Made it look easy."

Another wrote, "That was impressively done! Nice job!"

"He sure knew his stuff!" stated another.

The red tail boa constrictor measured 8 feet and weighed around 40 pounds.

"Skillfully capturing the snake, the officer safely secured it in a large tarp," the post read. "The animal was then removed from the residential area and will be endorsed over to Florida Fish and Wildlife authorities for further processing."

In other words, it was euthanized.

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