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NJ Homeowner Finds 8-Foot Python Under Shed
14 Aug
Summary
- An 8-foot Burmese python was discovered in a New Jersey backyard.
- The snake had recently eaten an opossum, complicating its removal.
- Officials suspect the python was an illegally released pet.
A routine afternoon in Freehold, New Jersey, took a surprising turn when a homeowner discovered an 8-foot Burmese python in her backyard. The large serpent had taken refuge under a garden shed.
Animal control officers responded, but the snake’s recent meal of an opossum made extraction difficult. The python was too large to fit back through the hole it entered. Rescuers had to dismantle part of the shed to safely remove the reptile.
To ensure the snake's well-being and investigate its recent meal, X-rays were performed, confirming the opossum. Officials believe the Burmese python was likely a pet illegally released by its owner, as these snakes require permits to be legally owned in New Jersey.
The python has been transferred to a qualified reptile expert. Authorities are reminding the public not to release exotic pets into the wild due to potential harm to local ecosystems, referencing Florida's ongoing invasive python crisis.
