A snake measuring about 6 feet was in a Big Island neighborhood on Friday, the state Department of Agriculture announced.

A Kea'au resident called Hawaii County police at about 2:15 p.m. and reported that there was a snake in his garage. Police and the Hawai'i Island Human Society captured the reptile and the Department of Land and Natural Resources took it to the Hilo office of the Agriculture Department.

The snake was sent to the plant quarantine branch in Honolulu, where it was identified as a boa constrictor.

Boa constrictors are nonvenomous and are native to Central and South America. They can grow up to 12 feet long and eat small mammals such as mice and rats.

Snakes have no natural predators in Hawai'i and pose a serious threat to the environment. Many species also prey on birds and their eggs, increasing the threat to endangered native birds. Large snakes can also be a danger to the public and small pets.

People who have illegal animals can turn them in under the state's amnesty program, which provides immunity from prosecution. Illegal animals can also be turned in at any Agriculture Department office, the Honolulu Zoo or any Humane Society facility with no questions asked or fines assessed.

Anyone with information on illegal animals may call the Pest Hotline at 643-7378.