Snakes on the Loose: The Curious Case of Mill Creek’s Abandoned Pythons

In a rather startling discovery, four baby ball pythons were found abandoned in a nature preserve in Mill Creek. Yes, you read that right—snakes! These little guys are usually sunning themselves thousands of miles away in Africa, not hanging out in a park in Washington. Sadly, only two of them survived their unexpected journey in the wilds of suburban America, and they’re currently being cared for at the Reptile Zoo in Monroe.

While the reptiles await rehoming, the local Reptile Zoo, run by Scott Petersen and his son, is set to close its doors on October 18. It seems that post-COVID, fewer people are visiting the zoo, probably too busy binge-watching their favorite shows instead of learning about the wonders of snakes. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see a ball python and an albino alligator? Just imagine the Instagram selfies!

It’s hard not to feel a little bad for the pythons; they didn’t ask to be dumped. Perhaps their former owners thought reptiles were as easy to ditch as a used gym membership—wrong! This scenario really makes you think: what’s the policy on pet ownership? Should people be better educated before taking on the responsibility of a living, breathing creature?

So, what do you think? Are exotic pets a trend we should embrace or avoid? Let’s chat about it—comment below!

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