NEW YORK – That’s a huge snake.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said it had recovered a giant Burmese python from a home in central New York State.
The snake was 16 feet long, weighed 79 pounds and lived in a 4- to 5-foot tank, the DEC said. It was in good health.
Owning a Burmese python is illegal in New York without a permit.
The snake’s owner said he was not prepared for how quickly the snake would grow and realized he could no longer care for it.
Facebook/New York State Department of Environmental Protection
The snake was donated to the Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo in Rome, NY
The snake’s owner was ticketed for keeping wild animals as pets and possessing dangerous wild animals without a permit.
Anyone wishing to keep a Burmese python or other dangerous animal in New York State can fill out an application on the Department of Environmental Conservation’s website. There is also a complete list of animals considered dangerous to keep, including wolverines, badgers, raccoons and more – all of which require a state permit.
The state does not permit the possession of dangerous animals as pets. However, the possession of such animals is permitted for scientific, educational, zoological and other reasons.
Speaking of snakes, New Jersey recently warned its residents to be on guard against poisonous copperhead snakes in the great outdoors.
