Just when you think you've seen everything on the Beltline, someone spots an 8-foot python. Joseph Ragland was walking the trail when he came across what he describes as definitely not a typical Georgia snake, and then watched as "somebody's uncle" came out of nowhere and started yanking it out of the bushes.
The video shows about 10 feet of snake laying on the Beltline, and nobody knows if the man handling it was the owner or just someone who thought they were being helpful. Jason Clark from Southeastern Reptile Rescue is pretty concerned about the whole situation, noting that handling unknown reptiles is dangerous for both the snake and the person.
This is exactly the kind of weird Atlanta story that makes you love this city and worry about it at the same time. The Beltline has become such a central part of life here that of course someone would abandon (or lose) their python on it. Environmental officials are reminding everyone to call professionals when they encounter wildlife they can't identify, rather than trying to wrangle it themselves.
