A Burmese python measuring 13 feet 2 inches and weighing 80 pounds was seized from a New Hartford, New York, home after a complaint. The owner lacked the required permit and told an officer he had not been prepared for the snake’s rapid growth and could no longer care for her.
The snake was transferred to Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo in Rome, where the zoo named her Mango. The 2024 reports describe her seizure and transition to the zoo; they do not establish her current status or whether she can be visited today.
Why was the python seized in New York?
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officer Jeff Hull responded to a complaint on August 28, 2024. According to the state account, as reproduced in reporting, Hull identified the snake as a Burmese python by its head pattern and found her in a 4-to-5-foot tank. The animal appeared to be in good health and was still growing.
The Times Union reported that the owner admitted he “wasn’t prepared for the snake to grow so quickly” and recognized he could no longer care for her. The owners lacked the required New York permit, and DEC removed the python.
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The owner was ticketed for possessing wildlife as a pet and possessing dangerous wildlife without a permit. These were reported tickets, not proof of a conviction or of the outcome of any later court proceeding.
What happened to the Burmese python?
DEC transferred the snake to Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo in Rome, which the state account described as having the permits required to possess her. The Times Union reported that zoo owner Rebecca Stedman named her Mango and said the zoo had put her on display in 2024.
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Stedman told the Times Union that Mango was adjusting to the zoo. She said the snake had been allowed to roam in her previous owners’ house and spent much of her time outside her container. Stedman also said the owners had fed her weekly and that the zoo was gradually adjusting her diet toward monthly feeding. These are Stedman’s reports about Mango, not general feeding guidance.
The Times Union reported that Stedman expected Mango to reach about 17 feet and said most Burmese pythons’ growth slows around age four. These were the zoo owner’s estimates and claims, not independent biological findings in the sources reviewed.
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How large was the snake compared with her tank?
| Reported detail | Measurement or account |
|---|---|
| Python’s length | 13 feet 2 inches, according to the state account reproduced in reporting |
| Python’s weight | 80 pounds |
| Tank length | Reported as 4 to 5 feet |
| New location | Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo in Rome, described by the state account as permitted to possess her |
The account described a large snake confined in a much shorter tank, while also reporting that she appeared healthy when officers found her. The incident illustrates the owner’s stated difficulty keeping up with the animal’s growth and the eventual transfer to a permitted zoo.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Why was a 13-foot python seized in New York?
DEC removed the Burmese python after a complaint. The owners lacked the required permit, and the owner told an officer he was unprepared for her rapid growth and could no longer care for her.
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What happened to the Burmese python seized in New Hartford?
She was transferred to Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo in Rome. The Times Union reported that the zoo named her Mango and that she was on display in 2024; the reporting does not confirm her current status or visitor access.
Was the owner convicted?
The reports say the owner was ticketed for possessing wildlife as a pet and possessing dangerous wildlife without a permit. They do not establish a court finding or conviction.
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How big was the python?
The state account, as reproduced in reporting, gave her measurements as 13 feet 2 inches long and 80 pounds. The Times Union reported her length as 13 feet.
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