Michigan State Police trooper kills 7-foot snake

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By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Aug 19, 2008 at 9:06 AM EST

Story Updated: Aug 19, 2008 at 12:08 PM EST

PORT SHELDON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan State Police trooper fatally shot a nearly 7-foot long snake that slithered onto a road in Ottawa County and was spotted lunging at passing motorists.

The Muskegon Chronicle reports a driver called 911 Monday after seeing the snake attack a pickup truck. The truck's driver, Brian Ahlin, says he repeatedly ran over the snake, which "kept bouncing back with his jaws wide open."

WZZM-TV reports Trooper William Coon arrived to find the snake still on the attack. The Grand Rapids Press reports Coon used his .40-caliber handgun to kill the snake.

A pet shop later identified the 6-foot, 10-inch snake as a Burmese Python. Authorities say the snake likely was a pet that either escaped from its owner or was deliberately released because of its size.

Thursday, Aug 21 at 3:30 PM Stunned wrote ...

That is a tall snake, thats like football player size. I'm 6 foot and pretty large but the thought of something like that staring down at me ready to eat me, is just ...wow, ima have nightmares. Good job 5-0, good job.

Thursday, Aug 21 at 8:40 AM Gary wrote ...

Dang, good thing it didn't eat a kid. Attacking trucks! Crazy.

Wednesday, Aug 20 at 10:38 PM Mel wrote ...

To prove my point about pythons upsetting the eco system, this is what I found in my research at Live Science..."Earlier this year, a U.S. Geological Survey report found that climate conditions favored the possible spread of Burmese pythons from Florida to as many as 32 states as the planet warms." Here is the website to read further about this subject. http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080813/sc_livescience/willdeadlypythonsspreadbeyondflorida

Wednesday, Aug 20 at 5:38 PM to Helen wrote ...

You are nuts! You actually feel SORRY for that snake? That snake was ATTACKING trucks and everything else in its path! Personally, I would've done the same thing and then taken my .12 gauge shotgun and blown it away!

Wednesday, Aug 20 at 4:19 PM charlie wrote ...

hey stupid the snake was in Michigan not Indiana

Wednesday, Aug 20 at 11:28 AM helen wrote ...

PETA needs contacted about that truck driver. He was abusing the snake. The snake was defending itself by instinct.

Wednesday, Aug 20 at 10:54 AM once again wrote ...

WSBT where's the pic of the mutilated snake?

Wednesday, Aug 20 at 9:21 AM Mel wrote ...

Hi Stupid - I love the way you signed your name. Ha! No I'm not an idiot. Some of these snakes are pregnant already when they get separated from their owners. Pythons are sometimes aggressive from the time they are born. Ask anyone who handles them. Stop and THINK before you insult someone. You may end up looking like the idiot.

Wednesday, Aug 20 at 6:36 AM Wimpy wrote ...

how is it you run over the squirrel once and it's dead but you run the snake over a few times and he is still charging a one ton truck

Wednesday, Aug 20 at 12:46 AM CC wrote ...

I remember a decade or 2 ago we had a snake some 28 feet long escape in the Walker area. The snakes name was "Big Sid" and I'm sure, based on the discription and size, this must be a relative. Lets call it "Little Sid".

Tuesday, Aug 19 at 10:29 PM stupid wrote ...

Mel are you an idiot? What if they have babies? So they are going to find another wild python in Indiana to mate with and make babies? What a stupid comment.

Tuesday, Aug 19 at 2:45 PM bjk100 wrote ...

Pet owners, weather they are just a cat or dog or an exotic species need to act responsibly. If you cant take care of it when it grows up dont get it. They look so cute when they are babies but they grow up!

Tuesday, Aug 19 at 12:03 PM Reality Check wrote ...

Most exotic animals would not survive our winters, but a valid point. Owning something you know will become a threat makes zero sense.

Tuesday, Aug 19 at 10:49 AM Verity Chastain wrote ...

What? He didn't shoot it and then run over it a couple of times to make sure it was dead like they do in South Bend? I remember when South Bend had its shoot the big snake story way back when. It made Uncle Lar and Little Tommy's Animal Stories on WLS. The one thing missing from this story is if the officer wet his pants!

Tuesday, Aug 19 at 9:53 AM Mel wrote ...

People need to stop owning exotic animals. We don't need them getting loose and killing or hurting a child or someone else's pet. What if they have babies while they are loose? If that starts happening, what will happen to our natural wildlife?

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