Duquesne police are asking residents to be on the lookout for a pet python that escaped from its owners.
The white snake, which is between 5- and 7-feet long, went missing Thursday near the 800 block of State Street while its owners were out for walk, according to authorities.
Police are warning residents to be cautious while in the area where the snake was last seen, especially if they are with young children and pets.
Pythons are nonvenomous, but the snakes can be dangerous because they are constrictors, according the U.S. Geological Survey.
The federal agency said human fatalities from constrictor snakes are very rare, with only one or two deaths reported a year worldwide.
A 5-foot-long python is not long enough to wrap around an adult, however it could harm a baby or small child by wrapping around their necks and constricting, according to the website A-Z Animals.
Police are warning residents not to approach the snake if they see it. Sightings should be reported by calling police at 412-469-3774. If there is no answer, leave a detailed message, police said.
