A homeowner who thought she saw her unraveled garden hose outside her residence was horrified to discover it was actually an 8-foot long snake.
According to a report from News 12 Hudson Valley, Long Islander Frances Hughes was startled to find a massive snake laying in her Deer Park driveway on Sunday. She had looked out her kitchen window and saw what she initially believed to be a garden hose she may have forgotten to put away. When she stepped outside, she realized it was something much different.
"I freaked out. I ran into the house and told my husband there was a snake. He thought it was a little snake, and I'm like no dude, it's a big snake," Hughes said to WNBC.
After looking at photographs of the captured snake, two reptile experts confirmed to News 12 that what Hughes found was a Burmese python, which are not native to New York and illegal to own in the state. Burmese pythons are considered "one of the most concerning invasive species," especially in areas where they have no natural predators and can reproduce rapidly in larger populations.
Hughes then reportedly called in the Suffolk County Police Department to remove the python. The department later posted about an 8-foot snake catch in the Deer Park area, but identified it as a "boa constrictor." Newsweek reached out to the department to confirm whether or not this was the snake on Hughes' property, but they did not immediately respond in time for publication.
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"There is no slithering away from Suffolk County police officers," the department posted. "Though this was no ordinary police call, Officers Argand Reyes and John Angus were up to the task. The two donned gloves and wrangled the big guy into a trash bin and safely transferred it to the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island in West Islip."
Hughes also told WNBC that because it is not immediately clear how long the python was on her property, she fears the worst for her rescue cat, who has been missing for five days.
"She didn't show up again this morning. I don't know, I just hope she comes back, I don't if those things eat cats," Hughes told the outlet.
As Burmese pythons are known for preying on small animals for food, other neighbors expressed their concerns about how the predator became loose.
"I have a little 10-pound dog and I am going to keep him in the house for now," neighbor Paula Palumbo told News 12.
WNBC reported that the python, whose owner has not come forward, will be kept at the veterinary clinic temporarily as the Department of Environment Protection investigates the case.
"It's pretty scary though, that type of snake must be someone's pet," Hughes told the outlet. "I'm glad it was found and caught, I don't know what's going to happen to it."
Newsweek was not immediately able to get in touch with Hughes for further comment on the situation.
Earlier this year in February, a 16-foot Burmese python was found in Florida, while a 14-foot one was found in Scotland. Throughout 2020, Burmese pythons of varying sizes were also captured by law enforcement in Florida, Utah and even Australia.
