6-foot snake captured by Newark police

A Newark resident out enjoying the warm weather Sunday came across something you wouldn't expect to see in New Jersey's largest city.

The resident reported seeing a six-foot snake on Filmore Street, which is just around the corner from 3rd Precinct Headquarters, NJ Advance Media reported. The reptile was basking in the warm weather, near the base of a house.

According to the article, police dispatched an officer to check it out around 1:30 p.m., at which time the officer was able to obtain a large box from a neighbor in the area. He trapped the snake until members of the Associated Humane Societies arrived, NJ Advance media reported. The species of the snake has not yet been determined, but it is believed to be an escaped pet.

The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife states that there are about 22 species of snakes in New Jersey, but they prefer to not be around people. It's illegal to capture and keep a wild snake, and anyone who owns a captive snake as a pet is required to obtain a permit through the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife's Exotic and Nongame Permits Office, according to their website.

A majority of the Garden State's snake population is located in wooded areas, such as the NJ Pinelands, where researchers are tracking them to see what can be done to protect them from the threat of overdevelopment.
Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor for news at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.