An eight-foot Burmese python was found in a New Jersey back garden. Footage shared by Monmouth County SPCA on Wednesday (5 August) shows animal control officers locating the 40lbs reptile, which had taken shelter underneath a shed. A local contractor helped remove the floorboards, and the reptile, which had a large bulge in the middle of its body, was carefully extracted. After examining x-rays, veterinary staff at the shelter discovered that the snake had recently eaten a large possum. The shelter urged people who are no longer able to care for their pet to reach out to a rescue centre. “Exotic pets do NOT belong in the wild! Releasing them harms local wildlife, domestic pets, and the exotic animal itself,” it said.