By Adrienne Fawcett

Lake Forest Wildlife Discovery Center Curator Rob Carmichael made the news earlier this week when an albino Burmese python was brought to the center in grave condition. According to media reports, a landscaper found the huge yellow and white snake in the bushes near Waukegan Municipal Beach. Waukegan Animal Control brought the python to the Wildlife Discovery Center in Lake Forest, which cares for many reptiles, fish, birds and even a bobcat. Sadly, the snake had to be euthanized.

Mr. Carmichael told GazeboNews: “We had virtually no info on the snake. My guess is that she was at least 5 years old. She was an albino Burmese python and it was probably an owner who knew he had a very sick snake and couldn’t afford treatment so he or she just ditched it. There are also animal rights extremist who have been known to acquire large constrictors and deliberately let them go in order to discredit the reptile hobby community (which is overall very responsible) and justify their own agendas of banning reptiles as pets.”

Here are some links to articles about the python:

Lake County News Sun: “Burmese Python Found In Waukegan Euthanized”

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “Illinois Trash Collector Finds Python”

Chicagoist: “Massive Python Found Near Waukegan Beach”