13-Foot Burmese Python Caught in South Florida Swimming Pool

The 13-foot snake will now be used to help authorities train to catch other such reptiles

A 13-foot Burmese python was captured in the swimming pool of a Palmetto Bay home, authorities said Monday.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue caught the reptile Sunday, and it will be used to train authorities for future snake captures, said Capt. Jeffrey Fobb with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's Venom Response Bureau.

Fobb said anyone who spots any exotic animal that needs to be caught should call 1-888-IVEGOT1. An iPhone app is also available.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Burmese pythons in South Florida are found in the Everglades National Park and the Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental area.

Burmese pythons can reach up to 26 feet with a weight of up to 200 pounds. They are prohibited from being pets. Fobb said that because this snake was found so far from the Everglades, it may have been released by someone who had acquired it as a pet.

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