Monmouth County SPCA rescues 8‑foot Burmese python from Freehold backyard

Animal control officers in Freehold, New Jersey, discovered an 8‑foot Burmese python hidden beneath a backyard shed. The snake had swallowed a possum, which was later seen in an X‑ray of its bulging belly. Officers dismantled part of the shed to reach the reptile and safely removed it, transferring the python to the Monmouth County SPCA for temporary care.

The snake was subsequently rehomed to a licensed snake expert at Fins and Feathers in Red Bank, who holds the proper permits and facilities for such an exotic animal. The SPCA used the incident to remind the public that exotic pets should not be released into the wild, warning of potential harm to local wildlife, domestic animals, and the pets themselves.