Ball pythons — long believed to be solitary creatures, and often kept as solo pets — seem to enjoy each other’s company, according to a new study out Ontario's Wilfrid University.

Ball pythons are popular pets and can live upwards of 30 years. The long lifespan can be too much for some owners to handle, leading a few to dump them illegally in parks and wilderness areas ...

“He’s a normal ball python,” he said, meaning his snake wasn’t genetically tricked out like the $100,000 variety. But it fit in his budget.

Experts at the St. Louis Zoo are trying to figure out how a 62-year-old ball python laid seven eggs despite not being near a male python for more than 15 years. Mark Wanner, manager of herpetology ...