SNAKES ALIVE!
City employee finds python slithering on U.S. Highway 84 W.
BY LELAND ACKER

Rusk city employee Justin Shugart holds a 51-inch python that was found slithering near a work site on U.S. Highway 84 Monday.

While repairing a water main on U.S. Hwy. 84 West, Monday, public works employee Justin Shugart made a startling discovery... a 51-inch python. Mr. Shugart caught the python before showing it off to the staff at the Cherokeean Herald.

Pythons are not native to North America. Various breeds of pythons are native to Southeast Asia and Africa. Pythons were introduced in North America as pets. Many have been released into the wild because they are difficult pets to keep.

They range in length from three to 33 feet. Their main source of food is reptiles and small mammals. They kill their prey by squeezing it, killing the prey by asphyxiation.

Pythons are not poisonous and generally do not pose a threat to humans. Reports of python attacks on humans are rare.

As of press time, the public works department has not announced its plans for the snake.