Bubba, lounging on the rocks above a bathing Mabel.	Bubba, up close and personal.

I was "Mom" to DACC's two albino Burmese pythons, Mabel and Bubba, sharing their care and handling with only their "Dad," and my office mate, John Hoagland.  Unfortunately, both adults succumbed to some unknown illness during the sumemr of 2004.  At the time of their deaths, the snakes were about 10 years old, somewhere between 12-14 feet long, andbefore their illness they each weighed about 60 pounds.   We usually fed them rats, several every two to three weeks.  The snakes were housed in their own secured habitat in the Mary Miller Center and had ample space, their own tree, and a swmming pool.

Due to their unexpected deaths, we are currently sterilizing and reconstructing the habitat so their offspring, Junior, can move in.  Junior was born in June 2003.

No, pythons are not venomous.  Many snakes do, however, harbor bacteria, such as salmonella, that can cause infections in humans, so you should always wash your hands well after handling them.
Yes, they are constrictors.  And . . .
YES, I know from first-hand experience (no pun intended) that pythons certainly can and DO bite, it hurts, and they don't like to let go if they mistake your hand for a rat!

Mabel and Bubba were given to us when they got too large for their owners to keep.  They had been raised together since birth and were remarkably well-behaved and tame.  However, all pythons, ours included, are wild animals and must be handled at all times with this in mind.  Mr. Hoagland and I are always aware that these are not pets.
 

Momma Lori with Mabel. Westville Labor Day Parade, (Photo by Cassie Ruggs, 2002)	"Dad," John Hoagland, walking one of our "children."
Me with Mabel, two of her  babies, and a pal, July 2003.

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