A New Jersey family got far more than an ordinary backyard surprise when an approximately 8-foot Burmese python was discovered hiding beneath their shed, but removing the giant snake became even more complicated once animal control officers realized it had recently swallowed a large meal.
Eyewitness News ABC7NY reporter Mike Marza said the unusual encounter happened at a home in Freehold, New Jersey, where Leslie Daley had been watering flowers before the family noticed the enormous reptile moving through the yard and eventually taking shelter under the shed.
By the time officers with the Monmouth County SPCA arrived, the python was wedged beneath the structure with a large bulge in the middle of its body, and an X-ray later revealed exactly what had made the rescue so difficult: the snake had swallowed an opossum.
A Python That Clearly Did Not Belong
Marza reported that the Daley family initially spotted the snake slithering through their backyard before it disappeared beneath the shed, apparently entering through a hole near one corner.
Once the family realized they were dealing with something much larger than a typical local snake, they contacted the Monmouth County SPCA and sent officials video of the animal.
An SPCA representative said the footage immediately got their attention.
“When we all saw it, our jaws kind of dropped a little,” the representative said, explaining that the animal was clearly a Burmese python and therefore did not belong in the New Jersey wilderness.
That reaction is understandable. An eight-foot python appearing beside a suburban flower bed is the kind of sight most homeowners would expect from a wildlife documentary rather than their own backyard, especially in a state where the species is not native.
Its Last Meal Made The Rescue Harder
Animal control officers soon discovered that locating the python was only the first part of the problem.
According to Marza, the snake had already eaten before crawling beneath the shed, leaving its middle section considerably wider than it otherwise would have been. That meant responders could not simply pull it backward through the opening it apparently used to get underneath the structure.
“Had eaten a meal prior to going under there, so now due to the size of him, unfortunately we couldn’t just pull him back out through the hole he came in,” an animal control official explained in the ABC7NY report.
The Daleys eventually called a contractor friend for help. He removed sections of the shed floor so animal control officers could reach the snake from above rather than trying to force it through the narrow entrance.
Even then, the python was difficult to free.
Responders had to dig around parts of its body, and one official said they still could not immediately determine exactly where the animal’s head was positioned beneath the structure.
For rescuers, that uncertainty mattered. Handling a snake this large requires care even when it is calm, and working around an animal whose head is hidden beneath a confined structure adds another layer of difficulty for both the people involved and the snake itself.
X-Rays Revealed An Opossum
After the python was finally removed, Monmouth County SPCA medical staff examined it to make sure the animal was healthy and that whatever it had swallowed was not creating another medical problem.
“We took some radiographs to see what it did eat and that it wouldn’t be detrimental to the animal,” an SPCA official said.
The images revealed a large opossum inside the python.
Fortunately, Marza noted, the meal was not somebody’s pet. An opossum was also a realistic prey animal for a Burmese python of that size.
Still, the discovery showed why a large exotic snake living loose in New Jersey can become an environmental concern. A python capable of swallowing a full-sized opossum is also large enough to prey on other wildlife and potentially some domestic animals.
An SPCA representative told ABC7NY that an animal of that size “poses a risk to local wildlife and people’s domestic pets,” adding that appropriately sized animals could become prey for the python.
Officials Suspect It May Have Been Released
How the Burmese python ended up in Freehold remains unclear.
Marza reported that keeping a Burmese python is not illegal in New Jersey, but owners are required to have the proper permit. Officials suspect the animal may have been released because somebody did not have the required permit or because it eventually became too large for its owner to manage.
That possibility is particularly important because Burmese pythons do not remain small pets for long. An animal that may once have seemed manageable can become a serious responsibility as it grows, which is why releasing an unwanted exotic animal into the wild creates problems rather than solving them.
The Monmouth County SPCA used the case to repeat a broader warning: exotic pets should never simply be turned loose outdoors.
“Exotic pets do not belong in the wild,” the organization said.
Officials warned that released exotic animals can threaten native wildlife and domestic pets while also struggling to survive themselves in an unfamiliar environment.
The Python Will Not Be Going Back To The Family
After being evaluated, the snake was placed in a secure enclosure while officials worked to determine where it could live permanently.
The Monmouth County SPCA partnered with reptile specialists at F&F to arrange care with an experienced snake handler who has the permits and facilities needed for an animal of this size. If no legal owner comes forward, the python is expected to remain permanently with its new caretaker.
Marza said a zoo had also been among the possible outcomes discussed for the animal, but one thing was certain: it would not be returning to the Daleys’ backyard.
The family appeared perfectly comfortable with that arrangement. One member of the household acknowledged in the ABC7NY report that he was “not a big snake person,” a reaction Marza said he could understand.
The episode ended without injury to the homeowners, animal control officers or the python, which is fortunate considering how awkward the rescue became beneath the shed.
What began as a surprising glimpse of an enormous snake ultimately required animal control officers, a contractor, veterinary staff and X-rays before the entire story became clear. And while finding an eight-foot Burmese python in a New Jersey yard was strange enough, discovering an entire opossum inside it made an already unusual backyard encounter considerably harder to forget.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, John developed a love for the great outdoors early on. With years of experience as a wilderness guide, he’s navigated rugged terrains and unpredictable weather patterns. John is also an avid hunter and fisherman who believes in sustainable living. His focus on practical survival skills, from building shelters to purifying water, reflects his passion for preparedness. When he’s not out in the wild, you can find him sharing his knowledge through writing, hoping to inspire others to embrace self-reliance.
