How do you keep from being attacked by a wild boa constrictor or burmese python?

There are some of them living in the river near my mom's house because people dump them out. Some people think they might migrate from Florida because the winter is too cold but other people think they keep warm under the power plant. Somebody shot a 12 foot one the other day. If I want to go to the river what should I do if I see one of these snakes?