Shocking find while repairing a watermain

While fixing watermain at Tivoli Park Friday, workers were approached by a 14 foot boa constrictor. The crew says the snake appeared as they were beginning to set up for a job that day. 

Albany Water Commissioner Joe Coffey tells the Times Union: 

It scared the hell out of our guys, I know that.

Coffey says he believes the snake was somebody's pet at one point, but was released into the preserve. 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was eventually called in and removed the snake. 

Boa constrictors are native to South and Central America - certainly not a typical find in New York State. The snake is not venomous, instead it disables its prey by wrapping around and squeezing it. 

No word yet from the DEC on what they plan to do with the snake.