An 8-foot python with a possum in its belly is not something most people expect to find beside a backyard shed in New Jersey.
But that was exactly the scene at one home in Freehold, where the Monmouth County SPCA said the massive snake was likely a pet that had been released, according to CBS News.
Here's what to know
A swollen stomach made the 40-pound Burmese python stand out as it moved slowly through the yard before Freehold resident Leslie Daley spotted it while working in the yard.
"I was watering my flowers last Friday around 4 and I saw something yellow moving very slowly across the front of my shed. And then his tail was 8 feet behind him," Daley recalled.
The situation became more difficult after the snake slipped beneath the shed. A local contractor removed the flooring so Scott Crawford of the Monmouth County SPCA could get to it.
"At that point, you [know], I was safe to grab the head, pick him up, and get him into a transport carrier," Crawford explained.
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Later X-rays showed what was weighing the animal down: a large possum it had swallowed.
The Monmouth County SPCA said that a snake like this should not be out in the wild.
More background
Because the species is not native to the region, Dr. Samantha Mammen of the Monmouth County SPCA suspected that the snake was likely a former pet.
"Obviously, this was an incredibly stressful event for this animal. This is not a native species to New Jersey. So it was likely someone's pet," Mammen told the outlet.
The Monmouth County SPCA also warned that released exotic pets can endanger nearby domestic animals.
What's being done?
The python has been returned to a cage and placed with a reptile specialist for care.
Rather than trying to corner or remove the animal themselves, the homeowners relied on professionals and outside help to remove the shed flooring and safely extract the snake.
The Monmouth County SPCA warned owners who can no longer care for exotic animals to not release them into the wild.
Where can I learn more?
For more on Burmese pythons outside their native range, these stories track the species in Florida and elsewhere. They look at the snakes' enormous appetites, aggressive encounters, breeding behavior, and the broader ecological threats they pose.
• In Florida, Burmese pythons can swallow deer and even alligators whole.
• In the Everglades, a record python hunt removed 294 snakes in 10 days.
• In Florida, video showed a giant snake nest as protective mothers guarded eggs.
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