The BeltLine has seen everything from art installations to wedding proposals, but an 8-foot python is definitely a new one. Video captured by Joseph Ragland shows someone's uncle (apparently) yanking what looks like a massive snake out of the bushes along the trail. "All of the sudden there's 10 feet of snake laying on the beltline," Ragland explained, which is not a sentence you expect to hear about our city's premier pedestrian path.
The whole thing is concerning to wildlife experts, who point out that we have no idea if this was someone's escaped pet or something that's been living along the trail. The Southeastern Reptile Rescue folks say the video is worrying because you shouldn't just grab unknown large snakes, even if you think you know what you're doing. Plus, if it was someone's pet, there are probably legal issues with just removing it.
This is the kind of story that makes you wonder what else is living along the 22 miles of BeltLine trail. The corridor goes through some pretty wild areas, especially on the eastside, but an 8-foot python suggests either someone's exotic pet situation got out of hand or we have bigger ecological issues to worry about. Either way, maybe keep your dog on a leash and your eyes open next time you're out for a jog.
