Boa Constrictor

Question
QUESTION: I live in North Yorkshire (UK) and in mid June, a boa constrictor was spotted at a local reservoir, apparently an escaped pet.  Since that time the snake has not been seen that I know of. It has been a very wet and cold summer here - with local flooding near this reservoir, and many days when the temperature did not get above 60F. Even at best the temperature here gets up to about 70-75 and at night often is down to 50 or even below.  This snake was apparently 6 feet long.

Since June, I have not walked my dogs at this reservoir for fear that this snake may be lying in wait to eat.  However, I now wonder if it could even be alive after 6 or 7 weeks. I read something that said they won't eat if it is not quite warm.  
Obviously I know you cannot know for sure if it is still alive, but what are your thoughts?

Many thanks!
Colette Luscomb
North Yorkshire
UK

ANSWER: My thoughts are that you should not change your life because someone supposedly saw a boa.  Invariably if it was reported to be 6 feet it was really 4, if it was reported to be 3 it was probably 2.  Boas (if it was really a boa and not a python or even a rat snake) can tolerate temps into the 50's for short periods of time IF they get to warm back up the next day.  If there is standing water they might even go into the water to escape the cold (assuming the water is warmer).  And it is true that they are not going to be very active if the temps are below 75F.

I have been on several calls to pick up "boas" which turned out to be rat snakes.  And one call to pick up a 6 foot rattle snake that turned out to be a 2.5 foot corn snake!   Snake stories tend to be like fish stories-exageration often plays a BIG role.  Let the doggies play.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for this answer. I feel much better knowing about the temperatures because it really very rarely gets into the 80s here.  Last weekend was the first time since this supposed sighting that it has been in the 80s and as I said, prior to that, there were many days (probably a week or two in a row) when the temperature did not get above 60.  

Just a final inquiry because I did not make it clear - dogs here generally are allowed to run off lead, and mine are small (one is 15lb and a little terrier - very curious).  I suspect if she came across this thing that was breathing she would bark at it and potentially poke it with her nose. If it was dormant but still alive, would it be likely to respond?

I'm including the link below so you can see the original story that came out - just so you can see if it was an exaggeration and indeed if you think it's a boa.  Here in the UK there are only two native snakes - adders, which live in the moors and are rarely seen, and grass snakes.  Just FYI.  thank you again for taking the time to calm my fears!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-18525101

Answer
OK, the brown snake which the story shows in the beginning IS a boa.  The white and yellow one is an albino burmese python.  I can't say that your dog is 100% safe.  A 6 foot boa might or might not consider a 15lb dog a meal, a burmese WOULD consider a 15lb dog a meal.  But, the python is much more sensitive to lower temps...  So, we're getting no where.  Did anyone get a pic of the actual snake?

Great reporter!  I wish our news casters had a sense of humor.