Burmese python rescued from under a New Jersey shed

A couple in Freehold, New Jersey, discovered an 8-foot, 40-pound Burmese python living under their backyard shed. The Monmouth County SPCA was called to perform a rescue operation after the snake was spotted in the yard.

Rescuers faced difficulties removing the reptile because its abdomen was distended from a recent large meal, which blocked the opening through which it had entered. To facilitate the removal, a contractor was required to tear up the shed's floorboards so responders could access the snake from above.

Following the rescue, X-rays conducted by the Monmouth County SPCA medical staff revealed that the python had recently consumed an opossum. While owning Burmese pythons is legal in New Jersey, they require a permit. Officials suggest the animal may have been released by an owner unable to manage its size.