Winnipeg police find snake on the loose in Fort Rouge neighbourhood

You can leave your house again, Winnipeg.

Winnipeg police say a snake, reported to be eight feet long and on the loose in Winnipeg’s Fort Rouge neighbourhood over the weekend, has been found.

“Officers have safely located the snake in the 600 block of Pembina Hwy. It has been turned over to Animal Services,” police said in a post on their Twitter page shortly after 3 p.m. Monday.

A photo posted along with the statement shows an officer holding a white snake, although the serpent did not appear to be eight feet long in the photo.

Winnipeg police Const. Lindsey Stevens, one of the responding officers, said bystanders at a nearby plaza spotted the snake and called it in.

Stevens, who has not been trained to capture snakes, said the animal was trying to escape once again.

“It become apparent that it was continuing on the move and we didn’t want to loose it, so we just scooped it,” he said.

The snake was friendly and didn’t bite once it was caught, according to Stevens.

1:34 Snakes slithering out of brumation in Lethbridge

Stevens spent some time searching for the snake on the weekend and is glad residents can feel safe again.

“You can tell there was a significant amount of worry and apprehension and just nerves that this thing was going to be under someone’s deck, or under their chair,” Stevens said.

“I’m just happy that’s over with and people can feel a bit more secure in that area.”

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A City of Winnipeg spokesperson said the snake has been identified as a Corn Snake.

The snake, which is legal under the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, has a slight surface injury and has been transported for veterinary care, according to the spokesperson.

The spokesperson confirmed the snake is smaller than it appeared in the video, but did not give an exact measurement.

It will be held as a stray and if not claimed, will be rehomed.

3:58 8-foot snake still missing in Winnipeg

Police first advised of the missing snake through a Twitter post Saturday night, warning that the large reptile had been spotted in the 600 block of Ebby Avenue.

The city had earlier said Animal Services Officers searched the area multiple times over the weekend, but the reptile had managed to evade its pursuers.

Animal Services CEO Leland Gordon told 680 CJOB the snake is likely someone’s lost pet.

Leland said the rogue snake had some in the neighbourhood rattled.

“We actually had a resident call 311 yesterday and won’t leave their house, because they’re so scared that — whatever kind of snake this is — it’s going to be in their yard,” he said.

Gordon said his department only gets around five calls a year for exotic animals, and said a similar situation happened in Winnipeg a number of years ago with a missing python.

“And we also see people out there who are really concerned about this kind of stuff.”

— With files from Sam Thompson