HELP!!!!- Carpet python escaped

[jejton]

My five ft. carpet python escaped his cage - I'm pretty sure - while I was bringing in cages that I was cleaning from the backyard. I must have accidentally opened the door to his cage when I moved it and now I cant find it. I looked all over the house and the backyard with no luck. I took out a frozen rat with the hopes of enticing him back since hes long overdue for a feed. I'm nervous that he went out the back door while I had it propped open and now that its dark I'll never find him until a local news report shows some kid getting bitten or holding my python. Any suggestions? Please help. I've spent over an hour looking for him with no luck. I have to turn in soon and wont be home most of the day tomorrow. Anyone have advice? I've searched pretty much everywhere it could be in the house with a couple of exceptions that I will search now but am very worried that it made it outside.