Part 2 of 2
The X-ray gave rescuers the answer almost immediately.
Inside the python was a large opossum.
The snake had swallowed the animal whole.
That enormous meal explained both the dramatic swelling and why the python had become so difficult to remove from beneath the shed.
At roughly eight feet long and about 40 pounds after eating, the Burmese python was already a powerful animal.
But officials said it was still considered juvenile.
That meant it potentially had much more growing left to do.
After the examination, the python was cleaned and placed in a secure enclosure.
Fortunately, rescuers reported that it appeared to be in good condition.
The bigger question became what should happen next.
Burmese pythons are not native to New Jersey.
Authorities suspected the animal had likely been someone’s exotic pet.
Officials believed it may have been released after becoming too large or difficult for its owner to handle.
No permitted owner immediately came forward.
The Monmouth County SPCA contacted reptile specialists through Fins & Feathers in Red Bank to help locate someone qualified to care for such a large snake.
A reptile expert with the necessary permits and housing agreed to keep the python safe.
If no legal owner came forward, the snake would remain in appropriate long-term care.
For rescuers, the incident was more than an unusual backyard discovery.
It was also a warning about what can happen when exotic pets are released into the environment.
A snake this size can prey on local wildlife.
Small domestic animals may also be at risk.
And the exotic animal itself can suffer when placed into an environment where it does not belong.
That was exactly why officials stressed that unwanted reptiles should never simply be released outdoors.
Owners who can no longer care for an exotic animal should instead contact a rescue organization, shelter or qualified reptile specialist.
The Daleys’ backyard discovery ended safely.
The python was removed without serious injury.
The family got its shed back.
And the snake was placed with someone equipped to handle it.
But the sight of that enormous animal beneath an ordinary suburban shed was something the family was unlikely to forget.
Ed Daley later admitted he was not much of a snake person.
After finding an eight-foot Burmese python hiding beneath his own shed, few people could blame him.
What looked at first like a bizarre backyard encounter ultimately became a reminder that exotic pets can become serious problems when owners release animals they can no longer manage.