13-Foot Python Seized from New York Home: Owner Overwhelmed by Snake's Growth

Giant Python Seized in New York Home

Last week, authorities in central New York seized a 13-foot Burmese python from a homeowner who was unable to care for the rapidly growing reptile.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation received a report of an illegally owned snake in New Hartford, a town near Syracuse. An officer, alerted by a picture of the snake's distinctive arrowhead-shaped head, confirmed it was a Burmese python, a species illegal to own in New York without a permit.

Burmese pythons, native to Southeast Asia, can reach lengths of over 23 feet and weigh up to 200 pounds. These snakes are considered invasive in the US, posing a threat to native wildlife.

The snake, found in a cramped 4-5 foot tank, measured 13 feet 2 inches long and weighed 80 pounds. Despite its size, the python was in good health. The owner, overwhelmed by the snake's rapid growth, admitted he could no longer care for it.

The python was seized and transported to Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo in Rome, while the owner received citations for illegal possession of wildlife and dangerous wildlife without a permit.