Newberry, SC (WLTX) — A number of residents in Newberry are terrified about a snake they claim to have seen. Some say it’s as long as 30 feet.
There’s also a picture going around that people are claiming is a picture of the snake. Tuesday, we went to check it out.
“That’s a picture my friend just sent me. It says it was found in a dirt road in Newberry,” said one girl as she showed us her cell phone picture.
It’s got just about everyone talking snakes.
“My friend, she got an email about the snake she seen on Vincent Street,” said one man.
“I think it’s some snakes from down toward Florida,” said another.
Most haven’t seen it, but they’ve most certainly heard.
“I know it’s true. My sister ain’t gonna tell no lie like that,” said one resident whose sister says she’s seen the large snake.
“It was the most humongous thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It almost scared me to death,” said James Maffett.
Maffett says he witnessed the snake with his own eyes while driving home a couple weeks ago.
“There was a big log halfway across the road. As I approached, I got within four feet and knew it was a snake,” said Maffett.
Maffett says the snake looked at him and slithered its way into a nearby field. He thinks it was more than 20 feet long.
“I have a grandson that’s two years old. He could eat him in an instant,” said Maffett.
We wanted to see if snake catcher John Whitehead could help us determine if the stories were true. He’s been working catching animals for 40 years all over the midlands.
“I get calls from people that say I got one in my yard that’s three feet long, and I go there and it’s six inches long,” said Whitehead.
Despite all the exaggerations, Whitehead is willing to bite at the Newberry tale. “The possibilities of it is great,” he said.
He says pet owners likely could have let go a Burmese Python. According to National Geographic the snake can get longer than 23 feet, and weigh 200 pounds.
As far as the picture everyone is passing around? It’s bogus. We looked it up on Google, and the snake in the infamous picture comes from Australia.
“I’m hoping they catch him today,” said Maffett.
For Maffett and his neighbors it’s all too real. Concerned residents have called the DNR, who told them to call animal control.
Animal Control passed them along to Whitehead, the snake catcher. However, at this point no one is willing to pay the cost to catch the snake.