A 12-foot anaconda snake was found while the Osceola County Sheriff's Office mounted patrol unit was training at East Lake Fish Camp Wednesday morning.

As part of their training, deputies were walking their horses over storm grates. They saw the dormant anaconda snake when they examined the grates. The snake was taken to Reptile World Serpentarium in St. Cloud, where reptile experts confirmed it as an anaconda.

The snake, which is non-venomous and typically found in tropical South America, explains why neighbors in the area recently reported the disappearance of numerous geese, chickens and ducks, deputies said. They do not know how long the anaconda has been there or where it came from.

Anacondas are one of the largest snakes in the world, growing to 30 feet in length. They live mostly in water and, while posing a danger to humans, typically prey on fish or animals that venture near or into the water.