An 8-Foot Python Was Hiding Under the Shed
The snake was identified as a Burmese python measuring approximately eight feet in length.
The enormous reptile had apparently taken shelter beneath the floor of the family’s shed, creating a difficult and potentially dangerous situation for anyone attempting to remove it.
Animal control officers arrived at the property along with a local contractor, who helped remove boards from the shed so that the snake could be safely reached.
Video from the rescue showed animal control officers carefully working to pull the massive python from its hiding place.
But one detail immediately stood out.
The snake had a huge, swollen bulge in the middle of its body.
Something was clearly inside it.
The question was: what had this enormous python eaten?
Officers Carefully Removed the Snake
Removing an eight-foot python from beneath a shed was not something the animal control team could rush.
The snake had to be handled carefully to avoid injuring the reptile — or the people trying to rescue it.
The Monmouth County SPCA described the operation in a Facebook post.
“Our trained ACO got to work and gently unwound him so as not to cause injury (to the snake or us!),” the organization wrote.
The rescue required patience and professional technique.
Eventually, the officers managed to free the python from beneath the shed and transport it to the Monmouth County SPCA for safekeeping.
But the enormous bulge in its stomach still had everyone curious.
The animal was taken for further examination, where an X-ray finally provided the answer.
The X-Ray Revealed Its Last Meal
The X-ray showed exactly what had caused the snake’s enormous swollen belly.
The python had eaten a large possum.
The discovery explained the dramatic bulge that had been visible in the snake’s body when rescuers first found it.
The Monmouth County SPCA said the snake was cleaned up and placed inside a secure tank while officials worked to determine what would happen to it next.
“We cleaned him up, put him in a secure tank and reached out to our reptile friends at Fins & Feathers in Red Bank who helped us find safe placement,” the organization explained.
The rescue operation therefore turned what could have been a frightening backyard encounter into a carefully managed animal rescue.
Burmese Pythons Are Not Native to New Jersey
The discovery was particularly unusual because Burmese pythons are not native to New Jersey.
The species is originally from Southeast Asia and is not naturally found in New Jersey or other parts of the Northeast.
According to NBC New York, however, these exotic snakes can legally be kept in New Jersey with the proper permit.
That raised an obvious question: How did an eight-foot Burmese python end up beneath a family’s backyard shed?
The source material does not establish exactly how the snake came to be on the property or identify its previous owner.
For now, officials focused on making sure the reptile was safely housed rather than allowing it to remain loose.
A New Home May Be Waiting
The Monmouth County SPCA said the python would temporarily be housed by a snake expert who has the appropriate permits for keeping reptiles.
Officials also made it clear that if a permitted owner does not come forward, the snake will eventually need a new permanent home.
The situation also prompted the animal rescue organization to issue a broader warning about exotic pets.
“Friendly Reminder: Exotic pets do NOT belong in the wild!” the Monmouth County SPCA wrote.
The organization warned that releasing exotic animals can create problems for native wildlife, domestic pets and the animals themselves.
Instead, owners who can no longer care for an exotic reptile are encouraged to contact a local rescue organization or shelter.
“If you can no longer care for a reptile, please reach out to a local rescue or shelter instead,” the organization added.
An Unforgettable Backyard Discovery
For the Freehold family, what began as an ordinary afternoon of watering flowers turned into an encounter few homeowners would ever expect.
An enormous Burmese python had found shelter beneath their shed, and its unusually swollen body revealed that it had recently consumed a large possum.
The snake was eventually removed safely by trained animal control officers and taken into professional care.
While the sight of an eight-foot python beneath a backyard shed was undoubtedly startling, the rescue also highlighted the challenges that can arise when exotic animals are kept as pets and later become difficult to manage.
For now, the python has been placed somewhere safe while officials and reptile experts work on finding an appropriate long-term home.
And for the family who discovered it, the encounter is likely to remain one of the most unforgettable backyard surprises they have ever experienced.