Authorities stepped in after discovering that a man in New York was illegally in possession of a pet snake that had grown too big for him to handle, leading to the guy’s criminal prosecution.
In a news release on Tuesday, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (ECO) stated that on August 28, Officer Jeff Hull was dispatched to the man’s residence.
Based on the arrowhead-like pattern on the snake’s head, Hull recognized the species as a Burmese python after viewing an image of it.
The Ecological Council of New York states that it is unlawful to own Burmese pythons in the state without a permission.
Hull discovered the big snake contained in a tank that was just five feet long when he entered the house. The reptile weighed eighty pounds and was in good condition.
Authorities added that the owner of the snake acknowledged to Hull that he realized he could no longer provide proper care for his pet and that he was unprepared for how quickly it would grow.
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The owner of the snake received citations for keeping a dangerous animal without a permit and for keeping a pet illegally.
Officials said that the python was hauled away and sent to Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo in Rome, New York, which has the right permissions to retain it.
