A second six-foot boa constrictor has been discovered on a UK golf course, raising concerns that an exotic pet owner may be dumping reptiles and that more could be lurking in the grass. The snake was found in long grass beside the fifth hole at Blackwell Grange Golf Club in Darlington, County Durham, on Friday morning, just a week after another six-foot boa constrictor was found around 20 yards away in the same area.
Golf Pro Turns Snake Catcher
Resident PGA professional Aaron Cox, who grew up in Brisbane, Australia, initially thought a colleague was "pulling my leg" when told about the second snake while he was teaching a junior golf session. Cox, who has experience with venomous snakes, described the encounter: "I would say it was at least six feet long, but it looked bigger than the last one. It looked a lot thicker. The body was about the circumference of my ankle." Unlike the first snake, which staff safely coaxed into a cardboard box, this one "wasn't happy at all" and swiped at staff. Cox added: "He wasn’t happy at all. He was hissing and upset and had a couple of swipes at me while I was trying to get him into the box. The first one we managed to coax into a box using a golf club, but with this one I had to physically pick it up and put it in."
First Discovery by Young Golfer
The first boa constrictor was found on June 13 by a 12-year-old golfer retrieving her ball during a junior session. As she approached the rough on the par-four fifth hole, she discovered her ball next to the large, curled-up reptile hidden in the long grass. Cox and head professional Peter Raine safely contained that snake and handed it to a specialist pet shop, where it was reported to be healthy. Boa constrictors are non-venomous and kill prey by constriction, sometimes consuming animals as large as pigs or deer.
Concerns Over Pet Dumping
The snakes are not native to the UK, typically found in tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas. The two close sightings on the club's boundary have baffled officials. Cox said: "We have no clue where they’re coming from. We have a few hunches, but we can’t speculate. There is a lane nearby with a handful of homes and a pond. If somebody is dumping snakes, then that area could be where they’re being left, but we genuinely don’t know. This snake was found about 20 yards from where the other one was discovered, so for all we know it could have been there all week." He added: "It is worrying from an animal welfare point of view. I know snakes aren’t everyone’s favourite animal, but if these are pets then you can’t just dump them. Whatever the reason is, it’s awful. We don’t know that’s what’s happened, but it is a concern."
Golfers Unfazed but Wary
Despite the unusual discoveries, golfers have continued to play on the course. Cox noted: "Most members aren't too bothered, but they are a bit wary around the fifth hole now. It’s not a major concern at the moment. If we find a third snake in the same area then it might become more of an issue. I know the manager has spoken about possibly getting the council involved to carry out a search if more turn up."
