Overview
- Animal control officers from the Monmouth County SPCA captured the roughly 8-foot Burmese python after a homeowner found it sheltering beneath a shed and a local contractor helped remove floorboards to access the animal.
- Veterinary staff at the SPCA performed X-rays that showed the snake had recently eaten a large opossum and then placed it in a secure enclosure for evaluation and care.
- The SPCA partnered with F&F reptile specialists to arrange transfer to an experienced, permitted handler and said the snake will remain with that caretaker if no legal owner comes forward.
- The agency used the case to warn that released exotic pets can threaten native wildlife, endanger household pets, and often fail to survive on their own.
- Officials stressed that large nonnative reptiles need specialized facilities and permits and urged owners who can no longer care for an exotic animal to contact licensed rescues or shelters rather than releasing it into the environment.