VIDEO: More large snake sightings in Lake Diefenbaker

While they prefer to stay out of the water, large snakes have been spotted taking a dip in Lake Diefenbaker on at least two occasions this spring.

Since a photo of a giant bull snake gliding across Lake Diefenbaker between Palliser Regional Park and the Riverhurst Ferry Crossing was reported by News Talk Radio, more people have reported seeing similar sized snakes in the water, and around the shore line.

Bill Stushnoff, owner of Mitchell Drilling Water Wells said his crew filmed a large snake in late April while doing a job.

“My guys were loading a tanker truck with water when they took the video, we were drilling a water well only a few hundred yards west of the ferry landing,” he said on Facebook. “He is huge, well over 7 feet and fat,” he described.

Lori Eyben said she also spotted what appears to be a large bull snake going for a swim near the same location on May 23.

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The bull snake, that looks to be about five or six feet long, triggered people’s phobia of the reptiles on social media. Many took to facebook saying they would never swim in the lake again.

But Dr. Ray Poulin, curator at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, said the bull snake is harmless and encountering one while swimming in a lake is “remote.” He said while the snakes will sometimes hop into the water to get from one point to another, they want get out as fast as possible so not to become vulnerable to predators.

It’s not clear if these sightings are the same snake.

-with files from Brent Bosker and Bre McAdam

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow