A snake that police believe to be a highly venomous viper not native to North America apparently is on the loose in Santa Ana.
Authorities think that the snake, which appears to be about four to five feet long and was spotted in a tree in a neighborhood near Main Street and Edinger Avenue, is a Gaboon viper, officials said Monday, Sept 28.
Officials have identified it as a Gaboon viper based on photographs they have seen, Santa Ana police Officer Natalie Garcia said.
Gaboon vipers have a geometric pattern of light and dark brown, pink and purple hues, with diamonds and stripes along their backs, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Native to rainforests in Central, West and East Africa, the vipers are venomous but generally calm, and they rarely bite humans, according to the institute. But a bite from a Gaboon viper can be fatal.
As of Monday afternoon, police had not deduced how the snake escaped into the neighborhood and they had not yet made contact with any potential owner, Garcia said. Gaboon vipers are considered a restricted species under California law, meaning possession or transportation of the snake requires special permitting.
Santa Ana police were planning to bring in a snake expert to help address the situation. They were also working with professional snake catchers, who were actively looking to capture the snake, Garcia said.
Since the initial sighting near Main Street and Edinger, police had not received additional reports of sightings. They warned that members of the public should not approach the snake or attempt to capture it and should instead call police at (714) 834-4211 for assistance.