There's a snake on the loose in Saanich.
Saanich police say a resident living in the 3200 block of Linwood Avenue, near Quadra and Tolmie, has reported seeing a large pale yellow-coloured snake showing up in his yard.
Sgt. Julie Fast says the snake has been around for several months:
"You know he first saw it a Christmas time, and then he's seen it at various other times. Usually pretty late at night or early, early in the morning when it's still dark out. The snake is, you know, either on his deck, or he's seen it on the fence, and he's seen it up a tree."
It's a mystery how an exotic species survived the record cold temperatures we had in February. Fast says it must have found a warm place to live.
Fast says the snake could have been kept as a pet with a permit, and while it could have escaped -- there are no reports of a lost snake. It may also have been intentionally released by the former owner.
In any case Fast says they'd like to capture it for its own welfare, and others as well:
" We're certainly concerned about the well-being of the snake. But if it is a large snake then we've got to think about the pets in the neighbourhood because it's obviously feeding on something."
Fast asks anyone seeing the snake it to keep an eye on it from a safe distance and call police. And get a photo if possible so they know what they are dealing with.