Discarded large python caught in Florida

BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- A reptile refuge in southwestern Florida was the new home for a dangerous 13-foot reticulated python found in the wild after apparently being abandoned.

Justin Matthews said his Matthews Wildlife Rescue group had been receiving reports for the past two weeks about sightings of a giant snake near Bradenton, Fla., and Monday, one of his volunteers happened to spot the snake coiled in a side road ditch, the Bradenton Herald reported.

Matthews said he went to the scene and was able to quickly grab the female snake's head and capture it.

"It was someone's pet, so somebody either got sick of this animal or it got away from them," Matthews told the newspaper.

The snakes are native to Asia and have grown to lengths of 33 feet on a diet of anything from rodents to humans, he said. Adult snakes have 88 half-inch-long teeth. They bite and then constrict their prey to death, he said.

Florida permits ownership of the snakes, but charges $100 for a license and owners must have them microchipped, the report said.

Matthews said the snake would become part of his traveling educational presentation to discourage exotic reptile ownership.