A quiet Saturday night in Honolulu turned into something out of a reptile handler's day job on July 25, when a local couple found a roughly three-foot ball python calmly curled up under their front door. They called 911, and responding officers, along with animal control, removed the non-venomous snake, which was later taken into custody.
Summer Engcabo told KHON2 she dialed 911 as soon as she spotted the snake and worried about her dogs' safety. According to the station, eight police officers showed up to secure the scene, and the Hawaiian Humane Society ultimately took custody of the animal.
Why snakes are banned in Hawaii
Snakes are illegal to possess or transport in Hawaii because they pose a serious threat to native birds and other wildlife, and larger reptiles can put pets at risk, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture warns. Per the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, the state runs an amnesty program and operates a toll-free PEST HOTLINE at 643-PEST for reporting sightings. Penalties for illegal possession can include steep fines and even jail time.
How officials handled the find
Officers at the scene identified the animal as a ball python, a non-venomous constrictor that is commonly kept as a pet elsewhere, then coordinated with animal control to have it safely removed. The Hawaiian Humane Society took custody of the snake, and state plant quarantine inspectors typically handle follow-up and safekeeping, according to KHON2.
What to do if you spot a snake
If you see a snake anywhere in the islands, officials stress that you should not try to catch, touch, or move it. Instead, note its location and contact authorities. Per the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, the PEST HOTLINE at 643-PEST and the state amnesty program are the proper ways to report and surrender illegal animals. Invasive species groups such as the Big Island Invasive Species Committee also warn that escaped or abandoned pets can put Hawaii's native ecosystems in harm's way.
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