There were no injuries reported on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 28, after police removed a snake from a shopping bag in the Olinville section of The Bronx.

 

An NYPD spokesperson said that police received a call on Saturday at around 2.09 p.m. for a report of a Honduran milk snake in the vicinity of 212th Street and White Plains Road.

Police said officers found the snake inside a shopping cart and proceeded to remove it. Asked if they had any idea how the snake got there, they said they did not.

 

They added that it was transferred to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Norwood News reached out to the department for more information and were informed that DEC police officers (ECOs) dropped off the snake to Animal Care Centers of New York City (ACC) to be examined by a herpetologist. The snake was identified as a milk snake, which is non-venomous and native to New York. The condition of the snake was unknown. Norwood News contacted ACC to ask about the snake’s condition and current whereabouts and will share any updates we receive.

POLICE REMOVE A Honduran Milk snake from a shopping cart located in the vicinity of 212th Street and White Plains Road in the Olinville section of The Bronx on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 28, 2024. Video courtesy of the Citizens’ App.

The area where the snake was located is a 5-minute walk from Gun Hill Houses. As reported in May, the Bronx District Attorney’s office is investigating reports of alleged, arranged pitbull fighting at various locations across The Bronx, Gun Hill Houses among them. Various residents have complained about cruelty to animals (dogs and cats) in the context of the investigation.

 

According to an article on Seaworld.org, based on information posted to kingsnake.com and written by various authors, Honduran milk snakes are known for their imitation of the markings and behavior of the venomous coral snake. “By such mimicry, they lead potential predators to believe they are dealing with a dangerous animals, and are thus left alone,” an extract read.

POLICE REMOVE A Honduran Milk snake from a shopping cart located in the vicinity of 212th Street and White Plains Road in the Olinville section of The Bronx on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 28, 2024. Video courtesy of the Citizens’ App.

According to the article, milksnakes use quick, jerky movements so that their bands flash, startling predators. Their bright colors signal danger and often confuse predators, making these snakes hard to follow. They are known for eating other snakes and have one of the widest distributions of any snake in the Americas. They reportedly get their name from an old belief that they drink milk from the udders of cows. This myth probably arose because they were commonly spotted in barns and stables, where there is a concentration of rodents.

 

As reported, in June, police removed a python snake from a residential home in Manhattan. In May 2023, Norwood News reported how an abandoned baby alligator left in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park which had swallowed a bath stopper and which was taken into care at Bronx Zoo, later died.

A statement read, “A necropsy revealed chronic and severe weight loss, extreme anemia, and infections in her intestine and skin. She also had a chronic ulcer of her stomach caused by the rubber stopper. Despite the intensive care, the alligator was so emaciated, debilitated, and anemic, her immune system was not as strong as it needed to be and she succumbed to those infections.”

 

Separately, a member of Future of Mosholu Parkland reported seeing a man beating a dog with the belt/leash on Mosholu Parkland and Bainbridge Avenue on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 11.30 a.m. “We cannot turn our heads away, and when this person saw me staring at him, he stopped, and I continued to stare at him until he got out of my sight,” the member wrote, in part.

The member added, “It’s a warning to dog owners if you don’t treat your dog better than yourself then you shouldn’t be owning a dog. This is a community that not only protects each other as humans, but we protect our pets as well.”

 

ACC advise residents to contact their local precinct if they see animal cruelty in process. “Otherwise, they can make a complaint via 311,” an ACC official said. “ACC does not have any law enforcement power in New York City.”

 

On Oct. 1, Friends of Pelham Parkway shared a photo of a sad-looking cat crouched under a tree on Wallace Avenue, writing, “Need help. This cat was dumped on Wallace and has been in this spot all day. Any help?” A few hours later, they shared a photo of a dog seemingly tied to a tree, writing, “Someone dumped this dog today in front of 1195 Pelham Parkway North.” The group appealed for help assisting both animals. Their email address is Friendsofpelhamparkway@gmail.com.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X @NYPDTips.

All calls are strictly confidential.