A snake tangled in a wire fence drew police officers and animal control to a yard in the city's Bay View section Monday night.
The entrapped Black Runner snake was reported at 19 South Kilby St. about 7:45 p.m. Monday, according to police.
The black snake was about 4 feet long and almost 2 inches wide, police reported. Black runners, also known as black or blue racer snakes, are not venomous, eat small rodents, frogs, toads, lizards, and other snakes, and will shake their tales in leaves, sounding like a rattlesnake.
An animal control officer removed the snake from the fence and relocated it, police said.
Neighbors in the area of South Kilby and Quarry streets have reported sightings of this and other Black Runner snakes in the past.
A Gloucester man was arrested for assault and battery on a number of alleged teenaged victims, according to Gloucester police.
Chad W. Whittemore, 33, of Patriots Circle, was allegedly fighting another man on Railroad Avenue, and allegedly punched some teenagers when they attempted to break up the fight, according to police.
Police said Whittemore appeared to be intoxicated. He later was transported to Addison Gilbert Hospital after he grew ill at the police station.
Marjorie Nesin can be reached at 978-283-7000 x3451, or mnesin@gloucestertimes.com.




