Student saves snake, gives boa constrictor new home
Updated: November 8, 2012
CHARLESTON -- A Park Land student is giving a boa constrictor another chance at life. The snake was left behind in an apartment about a week ago. That's when her original owners moved away.
Eden slithered into Kyle Thompson's life about a week ago. It all started with a message from his friend, a Mattoon police officer.
"He sends me a text message that says, we just found a six-foot boa constrictor left behind in an apartment," said Thompson. "I think I'm going to check it out."
But when he went to see for himself, the snake was much bigger. And Eden will get even bigger with a few solid meals a month and owners that will take good care of her.
"It took literally about a day and a half to get her metabolism back up and now she's real clear, real alert and she's really friendly."
Eden didn't seem shy at all when she saw our camera. Which makes you wonder why her old owners would leave her to die.
"It was implied that they were moving and couldn't take her with and just left her behind at the apartment they were living in," said Thompson.
So he made space in his heart and his home for another no-legged friend. Thompson liked dinosaurs as a child. He said his nine snakes and two bearded dragons are just as cool. And not as dangerous as you may think.
"Not once has she acted like she was going to attack me," said Thompson. "You never want to wrangle an eight foot snake, especially one her size."
Thompson also has a dog and cat but Eden may outlive both of them. Boa constrictors have a life expectancy of between 20 and 30 years.
Eden slithered into Kyle Thompson's life about a week ago. It all started with a message from his friend, a Mattoon police officer.
"He sends me a text message that says, we just found a six-foot boa constrictor left behind in an apartment," said Thompson. "I think I'm going to check it out."
But when he went to see for himself, the snake was much bigger. And Eden will get even bigger with a few solid meals a month and owners that will take good care of her.
"It took literally about a day and a half to get her metabolism back up and now she's real clear, real alert and she's really friendly."
Eden didn't seem shy at all when she saw our camera. Which makes you wonder why her old owners would leave her to die.
"It was implied that they were moving and couldn't take her with and just left her behind at the apartment they were living in," said Thompson.
So he made space in his heart and his home for another no-legged friend. Thompson liked dinosaurs as a child. He said his nine snakes and two bearded dragons are just as cool. And not as dangerous as you may think.
"Not once has she acted like she was going to attack me," said Thompson. "You never want to wrangle an eight foot snake, especially one her size."
Thompson also has a dog and cat but Eden may outlive both of them. Boa constrictors have a life expectancy of between 20 and 30 years.
