UPDATE, 8:30 p.m. Newton Police report the snake is still on the lam, and urge anybody who sees it to call them directly, NOT the city animal control officer.

Ted Hess-Mahan reports:

There is an 8 foot long Burmese Python loose in the Jewett St. area in #NewtonMA

His name is "Lightning" because he is so slow. He is brown and yellow and as thick as your leg.

Lightning was recently fed and probably (!) isn't hungry or dangerous.