Farmer Encounters Massive Jamaican Yellow Boa on Clarendon Farm

In a startling discovery on Tuesday morning, farmer Minette Minott and her son Marvin Watson encountered an unusually large Jamaican yellow boa on their farm in a rural area of Clarendon, Jamaica. Minott, who was headed to her crops to pick peppers and pumpkins, was informed by her son of the snake, estimated to be between eight and nine feet long, coiled in a sweetwood tree.

Initially mistaking feathers on the ground for signs of birds nesting above, Watson realized the presence of the boa. Recognizing the potential danger, Minott promptly contacted a friend at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), who swiftly arranged for wildlife specialist Daniel Francis to assist. Francis confirmed the snake’s size and helped Minott remove it safely, cutting down the tree to secure the animal.

Despite her initial resolve to kill the snake if NEPA was unavailable, Minott later expressed her commitment to preserving the protected species by contacting authorities if she encountered another. Under Jamaican law, the yellow boa is protected due to its status as an endemic species, beneficial to the environment as it primarily feeds on rodents and poses no threat to humans.

The farmer humorously shared her learning experience with the NEPA team, noting her newfound ability to identify the differences between male and female boas. As a precaution, Minott intends to clear vegetation near her farm to discourage further visits from the native boa, highlighting a mix of caution and conservation in her approach.