Another unexpected reptilian encounter on Vancouver Island has triggered growing concern over the ownership of exotic pets, after a second boa constrictor in just one month was recovered from a provincial park.
The latest case unfolded at Miracle Beach Provincial Park, about 250 kilometres northwest of Victoria, where conservation officers launched a targeted search for a 1.5-metre-long boa constrictor reported by a camper. Inspector Drew Milne of the BC Conservation Officer Service described the mission as “like finding a needle in a haystack”—except this haystack was a 137-hectare wilderness.
“We narrowed down a location based on the snake’s behaviour and the temperature conditions,” said Milne. “And we found it within seconds—just pulled it straight from the bush.”
This unusual capture comes just weeks after a 1.8-metre boa named Bailey went missing on Tofino’s Chesterman Beach. That snake was later discovered curled up in its owner’s kayak.
These back-to-back incidents are raising red flags for animal welfare advocates. Sara Dubois, senior director of animal welfare science at the BC SPCA, says exotic pets like boa constrictors pose serious challenges.
“Snakes like these should never be pets,” she said. “They’re wild animals in their native countries, and breeding them in captivity to be sold as novelty pets rarely ends well.”
Dubois warns that many owners are unaware of the long-term responsibility involved. Boa constrictors can live up to 30 years, need specialized care, and require costly, temperature-regulated habitats. “A lot of these animals become impulse purchases. People later abandon them when it’s no longer fun.”
While the boa at Miracle Beach may have escaped unintentionally, authorities aren’t ruling out the possibility that it was deliberately dumped. Releasing such animals is illegal in B.C., where boa constrictors are considered a restricted controlled alien species. While snakes under three metres don’t require permits for ownership, their release is strictly prohibited.
Milne, who heads the West Coast region of the Conservation Officer Service and is a former Canadian Armed Forces member, said he wasn’t afraid to handle the snake—but he hopes this isn’t the start of a troubling trend.
The snake was discovered on June 25 by a camper who recognized it as a species not native to the area. The park was briefly closed the next day while officers conducted a focused search. Once captured, the boa was transferred to the Comox Valley SPCA, where it is now awaiting adoption.
Dubois notes that rehoming such animals is extremely difficult and requires a “very unique, special” owner willing to meet its complex needs.
“Sadly, these creatures often become victims of human impulsiveness,” she said. “We urge the public to think twice before bringing exotic animals into their homes.”