A Burmese python found under a Freehold shed stunned animal rescuers after an X-ray showed the snake’s last meal was a large opossum.
A Burmese python with a swollen belly turned up under a New Jersey family’s shed this week, and an X-ray later showed the snake had swallowed a large opossum before rescuers caught it. The discovery happened in Freehold after Leslie Daley spotted the reptile moving through her backyard while she was watering flowers, her husband, Ed, told WABC.
The Daleys quickly realized the snake had slipped through a hole and settled under the floor of their shed. Officials with the Monmouth County SPCA were called in, and animal control workers removed the floorboards with help from a local contractor to reach the animal. Video from the rescue showed the thick-bodied python being carefully lifted out, with a pronounced bulge in the middle of its body. The scene was unusual even for experienced responders, since the snake had managed to hide in a confined space directly beneath the family’s property.
The snake was identified as an approximately 8-foot Burmese python, a species native to Southeast Asia and not to New Jersey or the broader Northeast. Burmese pythons are among the world’s larger snake species and are known for their ability to overpower substantial prey, which helps explain the obvious swelling in this case. While exotic snakes can be owned in New Jersey with a permit, experts note that they are not part of the region’s natural wildlife and can pose problems if they escape or are released outdoors.
The animal’s appearance in a residential yard underscored how quickly an exotic reptile can turn up in an unexpected place when it is outside a controlled environment. In warmer climates, Burmese pythons have become well known for establishing themselves in the wild and disrupting local ecosystems. In the Northeast, where they are not native and cannot survive in the wild in the same way, a loose python still raises concerns for neighbors, pets and wildlife, and it can create a difficult rescue situation for officials who must safely handle a powerful constrictor.
“A Burmese python found under a Freehold shed stunned animal rescuers after an X-ray showed the snake’s last meal was a large opossum.”
Veterinary staff later performed an X-ray that confirmed the python’s last meal was a large opossum, according to the Monmouth County SPCA. The finding explained the snake’s swollen body and added another layer to an already unusual rescue. Pythons can go long periods between meals, but after feeding they may seek out hidden, undisturbed spaces, which may have contributed to the animal’s decision to shelter beneath the shed floor.
The python is now being kept in a secure enclosure with an experienced snake handler while officials work to find it a long-term home. That step is meant to ensure the animal is monitored by someone familiar with its care needs and with the risks involved in housing a large reptile. The rescue also avoids returning the snake to a setting where it could wander into a neighborhood again or be exposed to further stress.
The Monmouth County SPCA used the rescue to warn that people should not release reptiles into the wild. In a social media post, the group said exotic animals do not belong outdoors and said releasing them can harm local wildlife, domestic pets and the animal itself. It also urged people who can no longer care for a reptile to contact a local rescue or shelter instead. The message reflected a broader concern among animal welfare workers that exotic pets require careful planning, secure enclosures and responsible surrender options when owners can no longer keep them.
For the Daleys, what began as a routine day in the yard turned into an encounter with one of the more unexpected creatures a homeowner might find beneath a shed. For local animal officials, it was another reminder that escaped or abandoned exotic pets can become both a public concern and a welfare issue. The successful removal, and the X-ray that revealed the python’s opossum meal, turned a backyard surprise into a vivid example of why authorities repeatedly stress containment and responsible ownership.
Frequently asked questions
Where was the python found?
Leslie Daley spotted it in her Freehold backyard, and officials later found it under the floor of the family’s shed.
How big was the snake?
It was identified as an approximately 8-foot Burmese python.
What did the X-ray show?
Veterinary staff found that the snake’s last meal was a large opossum.
What will happen to the python now?
The python has been placed in a secure enclosure with an experienced snake handler while officials look for a long-term home.
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