Halifax ball python search continues as apartment torn apart

A wildlife expert demolished the walls of a Halifax apartment where a snake went missing Thursday, but did notfind the ball python.

The landlord at 2327 Brunswick Street said TerryMacLeod of Nuisance Wildlifeworked late into the night, ripping out the walls and other parts of the unit. He was to return to the search Friday.

"We will continue to try to work with the pet owner to locate theanimal and we sincerely apologize for causing any unnecessaryconcern as we were assessing the initial situation," building owner CAPREIT said in a letter to tenants.

MacLeod said earlier heknew where the snake wasand thatthe missing ball python poses little risk to people.

Tenants in one of the buildings were originally warned to be on the lookout for a constrictor and not leave pets or infants alone until it was caught. It was later determined the snake was a ball python, a commonly kept pet snake that'sabout onemetre long.

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There are hundreds of apartment residents, and some on the sixth, seventhand eighth floors who were alarmed when they received a notice under their doors warning of a loose snake in the building.

"We just went to the office and they told us not to freak out, but why send a letter and then tell us not to freak out?" said tenantKim Martin.

"You know what, if I had a baby? My cat's going to be there all by itself all day."

MacLeoddownplayed the risk.

"It's not a dangerous snake. A little three-year-old could play with this young snake. It's like a garter snake out there in your yard, you know, that we all played with when we were younger kids. But it's contained in the room, and it fed two days ago and it may not feed for another few weeks."

MacLeodhopes he'll be able to find the snake by Fridayafternoon.

News of exotic snake species has been in the spotlight since two New Brunswick boys were killed last year after an African rock python escaped from its cage in apet store in a building where the boys were sleeping.