Here is this mornings article. I wan't to thank Dr. Balderamma for being there and shedding some light on boas, in a good way.

Hopefully they find the owner. If not I may have to offer her a home.

http://www.cdapress.com/articles/200...ews/news02.txt

Boa pays PF a visit

POST FALLS -- This wasn't Ardella Quaale's average leisurely evening stroll.

Greeting her when she walked outside her home on Bodine Avenue north of Post Falls on Tuesday night was an 8-foot boa constrictor snake.

"It was laying under an apple tree, and I had no idea where it came from," she said. "I thought it was fake because it was just laying there and never moved. Then I saw it's tail twitch and I thought, 'This is alive!'"

While Quaale and her grandson contacted several agencies to see who'd be willing to deal with the snake, neighbors gathered to take photos of the unusual visitor. No one in the vicinity claimed the snake.

"We were able to wrap it up in a sheet," Quaale said, adding that it was as round as a softball. "I was afraid that it would head to the house or car where it was warm."

Veterinarian David Balderrama took the non-venomous snake to North Idaho Pet Emergency in Post Falls -- where he works -- before animal control officers from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office found shelter for it on Wednesday morning.

Sheriff's spokesman Ben Wolfinger said this is the first time in recent memory that the department has dealt with such a pet.

Wolfinger said there are no statutes on holding snakes, just dogs.

"I imagine that we will keep it for a about a week or until we find the owner," he said. "We will have to check with legal counsel as to the process for finding it another home."
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Balderrama, who treats reptiles, said it appears the snake, which he believes is a female, hasn't been away from home long.

"Probably not more than 48 hours, if that," he said. "It looks like it's been well-fed and well taken care of."

Balderrama believes it probably either escaped or was dropped off.

"These guys are strong and could escape containment," he said.

Balderrama said that some people believe owning a snake is neat at first, then they get tired of keeping it around, especially as it grows.

"The novelty wears off," he said. "It's a high-maintenance type of pet and they're not highly sociable."

Balderrama said it would be "irresponsible" of someone to drop off the snake because it has the potential of harming a small pet if it becomes hungry.

"These are very nice snakes as far as snakes go, but there is no such thing as a vegetarian snake," he said.

Boa constrictors also don't do cold weather.

"They're native to South America and they have very special needs such as heating lamps," he said, adding that it wouldn't survive the winter.

Most of the cost for keeping snakes is spent up front for items such as cages and lamps -- and they can go days without eating -- so Balderrama said it's doubtful that someone dropped if off because they could no longer afford it.

"I wouldn't blame it on the economy," he said.

Balderrama estimates the snake would sell for between $200 and $400.

Anyone with information about the snake should call the Sheriff's Department at (number removed)