Ridiculous story of the day...

[jglass38]

My comments are in parentheses. What an utterly ridiculous story. This is a guy that this happened to, not a meek, scared little girl.


Python picks on UF student (Picks on? That’s a bit of a stretch!)

By VANESSA GARCIA
Alligator Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of James Golden
A ball python coils itself in a kitchen sink drain at UF freshman Elizabeth LaFoe's apartment Thursday night. The python was removed safely by Gainesville Police and was taken to the UF Veterinary School. Even a 911 operator couldn't believe what Elizabeth LaFoe found in her kitchen Thursday night.

"The dispatcher didn't believe me at first," LaFoe said. "She kept asking, 'Are you sure?'"

What the UF freshman found was a 2-foot live ball python coiled in the drain of her kitchen sink at Looking Glass Apartments.

Upon discovering the snake, LaFoe ran to her neighbor, UF junior James Golden, to ask for help.

"At first I thought it was a lizard," (Because they look so much alike!?) Golden said. "Then it moved, and I knew it was something bigger. When I saw the pattern on the scales, I jumped back."

LaFoe said she trapped the hissing python under a dish-drying rack and heavy math textbook.

Golden said he hurriedly tried to remember the riddle about snakes he had learned as a child.

"Black over red is a friend of Fred," Golden said. "Black over yellow will kill a fellow." (Wait, what!?)

As the snake continued to move, both decided to call for help.

"I told her to call an exterminator," Golden said. "I didn't know if it was poisonous, so I didn't want to touch it."

LaFoe dialed 911 around 11 p.m.

While waiting for police to arrive, LaFoe said her imagination ran wild.

She remembered watching a recent newscast about a snake in Florida that had eaten an alligator.

"The police kept calling back to make sure it was still there and that I was OK," she said.

About an hour and a half later, four Gainesville Police squad cars pulled into the parking lot of Looking Glass Apartments, 111 NW 16th St.

GPD officer Ronnie Hartley, a former snake owner, said he immediately recognized the snake as a ball python.

"It's about the width of a golf ball," Hartley said. "They have teeth but aren't venomous."

"It's not that common, but sometimes they get loose and pay a visit," he added.

Police attempted to push the snake out of the drain with a clothes hanger, but the animal wouldn't move.

Officers at the scene were forced to unscrew the garbage disposal to remove the snake, Hartley said.

"If she turned on the garbage disposal, it would have jumped up to bite her," he said.

The snake slithered around in a brown shopping bag while officers used their radios to find it a more appropriate home.

Because ball pythons are not found in the wild locally, Hartley said he suspects that the snake is probably a neighbor's missing pet.

"About three weeks ago we had a similar call about a snake in a vent at another apartment," Hartley said. "They like the water."

GPD was unable to contact a local couple known as the "snake busters," who usually handle snake problems and house them after they are captured, Hartley said.

After LaFoe's encounter, the snake was taken to the UF Veterinary Medical Center.

A group of LaFoe's neighbors curiously crowded her apartment door to see the snake.

LaFoe's neighbor, UF junior Joe Bushong, said he was disturbed by the entire situation.

"Every time I sit my butt down on a toilet, I'm going to think about this," Bushong said.

[tigerlily]

Ugh! People are just so silly. I guess I'm weird, if I found that in my sink I'd be like cool! (or making a mad dash upstairs to make sure everyone is still securely in their respective cages!)

And the whole red/yellow/black thing?!?! They're brown and black, how the heck is that suppose to help even if they coulda gotten it right? Sheesh.

[daniel1983]

Upon seeing a new ball python under my sink, my first thought would have been 'is it a female?"

...yep....some people are silly. I have only a saying like that to distinguish between scarlet kingsnakes and coral snakes (would not want to mess up on that one ).

[frankykeno]

hahahahahahha...it's like that story awhile back from England about the kid that had a cornsnake fall out of his cereal box and it freaked him out and "traumatized" him. LOL

My kids would have been more like "Hey mommmmmmmmmmm he got a freakin cool snake in his box of cereal!!!! Where's mine! I want one! You love him more!!!! waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" Course I have one wierd kid that is already asking which snake she gets in our will!


~~Jo~~

[Emilio]

My comments are in parentheses. What an utterly ridiculous story. This is a guy that this happened to, not a meek, scared little girl.


Python picks on UF student (Picks on? That’s a bit of a stretch!)

By VANESSA GARCIA
Alligator Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of James Golden
A ball python coils itself in a kitchen sink drain at UF freshman Elizabeth LaFoe's apartment Thursday night. The python was removed safely by Gainesville Police and was taken to the UF Veterinary School. Even a 911 operator couldn't believe what Elizabeth LaFoe found in her kitchen Thursday night.

"The dispatcher didn't believe me at first," LaFoe said. "She kept asking, 'Are you sure?'"

What the UF freshman found was a 2-foot live ball python coiled in the drain of her kitchen sink at Looking Glass Apartments.

Upon discovering the snake, LaFoe ran to her neighbor, UF junior James Golden, to ask for help.

"At first I thought it was a lizard," (Because they look so much alike!?) Golden said. "Then it moved, and I knew it was something bigger. When I saw the pattern on the scales, I jumped back."

LaFoe said she trapped the hissing python under a dish-drying rack and heavy math textbook.

Golden said he hurriedly tried to remember the riddle about snakes he had learned as a child.

"Black over red is a friend of Fred," Golden said. "Black over yellow will kill a fellow." (Wait, what!?)

As the snake continued to move, both decided to call for help.

"I told her to call an exterminator," Golden said. "I didn't know if it was poisonous, so I didn't want to touch it."

LaFoe dialed 911 around 11 p.m.

While waiting for police to arrive, LaFoe said her imagination ran wild.

She remembered watching a recent newscast about a snake in Florida that had eaten an alligator.

"The police kept calling back to make sure it was still there and that I was OK," she said.

About an hour and a half later, four Gainesville Police squad cars pulled into the parking lot of Looking Glass Apartments, 111 NW 16th St.

GPD officer Ronnie Hartley, a former snake owner, said he immediately recognized the snake as a ball python.

"It's about the width of a golf ball," Hartley said. "They have teeth but aren't venomous."

"It's not that common, but sometimes they get loose and pay a visit," he added.

Police attempted to push the snake out of the drain with a clothes hanger, but the animal wouldn't move.

Officers at the scene were forced to unscrew the garbage disposal to remove the snake, Hartley said.

"If she turned on the garbage disposal, it would have jumped up to bite her," he said.

The snake slithered around in a brown shopping bag while officers used their radios to find it a more appropriate home.

Because ball pythons are not found in the wild locally, Hartley said he suspects that the snake is probably a neighbor's missing pet.

"About three weeks ago we had a similar call about a snake in a vent at another apartment," Hartley said. "They like the water."

GPD was unable to contact a local couple known as the "snake busters," who usually handle snake problems and house them after they are captured, Hartley said.

After LaFoe's encounter, the snake was taken to the UF Veterinary Medical Center.

A group of LaFoe's neighbors curiously crowded her apartment door to see the snake.

LaFoe's neighbor, UF junior Joe Bushong, said he was disturbed by the entire situation.

"Every time I sit my butt down on a toilet, I'm going to think about this," Bushong said.

thats pretty silly its amazing how we fear what we dont understand i was one of those people.

[iceman25]

Bahahahahahahahahahahah!

[iceman25]

I'm sorry, what I meant to say was...

Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[mr~python]

they coulda of just called this one, 12 year old kid!!! Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!

[alexrls]

marshall how come in like every post u make u mention that ur a twelve year old kid? we got it already dude!