This likely wasn't a call police officials were expecting on a hot summer's night after an approximately four foot long python snake was spotted at an Esso gas station in Toronto.

Police and fire officials arrived to the Esso at Victoria Park and Danforth Avenue just after midnight early Tuesday, after receiving a call from a passerby that said they saw the snake coming up from the sewer grate at the drive through location there.

Firefighters were able to quickly remove and secure the snake into a bag, which was then transported to the Toronto Police 55 Division until the city's Animal Services arrived about 20 minutes later.

According to the Toronto Animal Services officer that responded, they believe the owner wanted to surrender the snake, but instead abandoned it at the Esso location.

Python snake, approximately four feet long, was put into a bag as Animal Services responded. Courtesy: Jeremy Cohn

In a statement from the city, officials say the snake will be transferred to a reptile sanctuary.

"Anyone that is no longer able to care for a snake is strongly encouraged to surrender it to a local herpetological society," the statement read.