Advertisement Signs of Wessie? Large snake skin found in Westbrook Skin found near sightings of 'Wessie' Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Westbrook police are warning the public about snakes after a large snake skin was found near the Presumpscot River.Police have been searching for the reported 10-foot snake since June. A woman reported seeing it near the playground at Westbrook's Riverbank Park. There were several other sightings since.The snake has been dubbed "Wessie."Westbrook Police Chief Janine Roberts said a person found the shed skin around 3 p.m. Saturday near the carry-in boat launch.The department is attempting to determine what kind of snake it came from."Until the type of snake is determined and we can assess the safety risk, we caution people who recreate along the Presumpscot River to remain alert, maintain a safe distance from any wildlife, and report any sightings of the snake to the Westbrook Police Department," Roberts said.The department is planning to send samples of the skin to be tested.The snake was first seen on June 23. It was described as being the length of a truck with a head the size of a soccer ball.Officers spotted the snake days later eating a beaver.The officers watched the snake swim across the Presumpscot River to Brown Street, where it disappeared into the brush.The officers estimated that the snake was at least 10 feet long. They were able to take a photo.Experts said a snake eating a mammal as large as a beaver and with skin that large would not be native to Maine.People at Riverbank Park on Sunday did not seem concerned."At this point it doesn't seem to be presenting a threat and probably they'll take care of it pretty quickly if they do find it," Alan Pratt, of South Portland, said."If anything it gets me thinking about Scotland and the Loch Ness Monster more than anything," Todd Paddock, of Scarborough, said. "Of course they never did find that.""Nothing's going to keep me from the park today, Wessie or Nessie or whatever it is. I'm not afraid," David Pratt, of Scarborough. said.Get the WMTW App9234908