WESTBROOK, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — A City of Westbrook public works employee snapped a picture Tuesday morning of what he believes is "Wessie," the 10-foot-long snake that multiple people, including Westbrook Police, reported seeing near Riverbank Park.
Earl White said Tuesday that he saw the snake swimming across the water and took a photo.
"I didn't believe it at first," White said, adding that a co-worker agreed with him.
A former Discovery Channel host also searched for the snake Tuesday.
Bill Brock, a cryptozoologist, used to host the show "Monsters Underground," which documented his searches for creatures that people reported seeing but could not be proven by science.
"I really wanted to be the guy that found out what this really was," said Brock.
Brock searched both banks of the Presumpscot River, searching for the ten-foot snake that has become a Westbrook legend. Police reported the first sightings of the snake about two months ago.
"The fact that we have a snake that size here in Maine is really a mystery," said Brock.
.@Brock_Leader on the hunt for @WessieThon @WCSH6 @WLBZ2 pic.twitter.com/NC7sFvxl6e
— Chris Costa (@ChrisCostaTV) August 23, 2016
On Saturday, Westbrook Police released a photo of a shedded snake skin, that was reportedly found on the banks of the park. Captain Sean Lally said the skin measured 12 feet, 1 inch.
Police sent a sample of that skin to a herpetologist at the University of Texas at Tyler who is a professor of biology. The professor did not return phone calls from NEWS CENTER Tuesday.
Snake enthusiasts are skeptical about the recently found skin. Rob Christian, the president of the Maine Herpetological Society, said it is rare to find a skin in that condition.
"You don't get a nice, laid-out she'd like that," Christian said. "Typically when you find a snake-shed skin, it'll be wrapped around branches or in the underbrush or you'll find it wrapped around the side of a rock."
Brock agreed with Christian's analysis but said that other evidence pointed to the snake living near the river.
Brock found burrowed holes along the bank that he said matched the size of snake that people had reported.
"A lot of people think it's a hoax simply because we're in Westbrook, Maine. Why in the world is there a 12-foot snake in Westbrook, Maine?" said Brock. "I would say that without a doubt, there is a giant snake in the water here in Westbrook."
A spokesperson for the Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said that the department has no plans to survey the area.
Depending on the type of snake, the department could confiscate it, if it is a restricted species in the state.
Police said after they were alerted, they went to the specified area to take photographs and collect the skin for examination to determine the type of snake and what risks it poses, if any, to the public's safety.
At this time, the type of snake has not been determined, police caution people who recreate along the river to remain alerted and maintain a safe distance from wildlife and report any sightings of the snake.
Westbrook Police Department can be reached at 207-854-0644.
Locally, the snark of Wessie P. Thon Twitter account kicked into high gear after the find. You can follow @WessieThon on Twitter.