For most of us, an unexpected backyard encounter usually consists of a deer—maybe a raccoon or a gopher—but for one Freehold homeowner, a recent backyard surprise was a bit more exotic. How would you react if you came across a snake the length of a couch that’s halfway through its possum feast?
The Monmouth County SPCA got the call and, by their own admission, needed a second to process it, according to Patch.
An eight-foot Burmese python, a species that has no business being anywhere near New Jersey, had tucked itself under the floorboards of a backyard shed. Getting it out meant calling in a local contractor just to pull up the floor, since animal control couldn’t exactly coax it into the open on its own.
@abc7ny An unexpected backyard visitor! An 8-foot Burmese python was found hiding beneath a shed in Freehold, New Jersey, before being safely rescued by animal control officers. Officials from Monmouth County's SPCA said the non-native snake had recently eaten an opossum and has since been placed with a licensed reptile caretaker. They also remind pet owners never to release exotic animals into the wild. ♬ original sound – ABC7NY
Once the boards came up, an animal control officer carefully unwound the snake by hand, working slowly enough to avoid hurting either the python or themselves in the process.
Here’s where things got interesting. Video of the rescue showed an unmistakable bulge running through the middle of the snake’s body. A trip to the SPCA and a set of X-rays confirmed the suspicion: the python had recently eaten a full-grown opossum. All in, the snake weighed in at around 40 pounds, meal included.
After getting cleaned up and settled into a secure enclosure, the python’s next chapter is already sorted. The SPCA teamed up with Fins & Feathers, an independently owned pet store in Red Bank, to place the snake with an experienced, properly permitted reptile handler. If nobody steps forward to claim ownership, that handler becomes its home for good.
The SPCA is using the moment to push a message that apparently still needs pushing: exotic pets don’t belong in the wild. Releasing them can hurt native wildlife, put other animals at risk, and usually leaves the released pet unable to fend for itself long-term. Anyone who can no longer care for a reptile is encouraged to contact a licensed rescue or shelter instead of letting it loose in, say, someone’s backyard shed.
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