A New Jersey family got an unbelievable surprise when they discovered an 8-foot Burmese python hiding underneath their backyard shed. The snake was spotted in a Freehold backyard, and animal control officers were called to safely remove it. When rescuers carefully pulled the massive reptile from beneath the shed, they immediately noticed something strange: its belly was enormously swollen.

The Monmouth County SPCA took the python in for examination, and an X-ray revealed what had caused the enormous bulge. The snake had recently swallowed a large opossum. Rescuers carefully secured the python, cleaned it up, and contacted reptile specialists to help find it a safe and appropriate home.

Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia and aren’t naturally found in New Jersey, meaning this massive snake was almost certainly an exotic pet that had escaped or been released. Officials warned that exotic animals should never be released into the wild, as they can threaten local wildlife, domestic pets, and even their own survival.

The bizarre discovery left the family with a story they’ll probably never forget—and raised an even bigger question: How did an 8-foot python end up underneath their backyard shed in the first place?