8-foot python found under NJ family’s shed

In Freehold Township, New Jersey, an 8-foot Burmese python was discovered hiding beneath a family's shed, creating a frightening surprise for the residents. The unusual event occurred when Leslie Daley, while watering flowers, noticed a large snake moving near their backyard shed. The Daleys contacted the Monmouth County SPCA, and animal control officers arrived to handle the unexpected visitor.

Due to the python's location, rescuers required assistance from a local contractor to remove part of the shed floor and access the snake. After carefully extracting the reptile, it was taken to the SPCA for examination. During an X-ray, veterinarians noticed an unusual bulge in the python's abdomen, revealing that it had recently consumed a large opossum.

The Burmese python, measuring around 8 feet long and weighing approximately 40 pounds, is a constrictor species known for swallowing its prey whole. This unique adaptation allows them to consume animals significantly larger than their own bodies. Dr. Samantha Mammen, the medical director of the Monmouth County SPCA, stated that the juvenile python appeared to be in good condition and not dehydrated.

While the exact circumstances surrounding the python's arrival in the shed remain unknown, officials suspect it may have been abandoned by its owner. Burmese pythons, although not native to New Jersey, can legally be kept under the state's exotic-animal permitting requirements. Animal Control Officer Scott Crawford revealed that authorities believed someone may have released the python after it became too challenging to manage.

The rescued snake was placed in a secure enclosure while authorities sought a suitable long-term home. Ultimately, it was transferred to a certified reptile expert for continued care. The Monmouth County SPCA emphasized that releasing exotic pets outdoors can pose risks to native wildlife, domestic pets, and the animals themselves. For the Freehold family, what started as an alarming encounter with a snake ended with an extraordinary explanation: the giant python hidden beneath their shed had recently devoured an opossum.