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Giant Pythons Removed From Vermont Home, Headed To Massachusetts Sanctuary

NORTH CLARENDON, Vt. (AP) — Two giant snakes that are native to southeast Asia are headed to a snake sanctuary in Massachusetts after the Vermont man who rescued them turned them over to game wardens.

The larger of the two reticulated pythons that were picked up Tuesday by experts from the Massachusetts-based Rainforest Reptile Shows was between 17 and 18 feet long and weighed an estimated 220 pounds. The smaller male was about 15 feet long, weighing about 150 pounds.

Pat Howard of North Clarendon says he got the snakes from a New York man who couldn't keep them on Sunday. He knew he didn't have the permits to keep them so on Monday he called state game wardens.

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Handlers remove a python from a Vermont house. (Image credit WCAX)

Game Warden Chad Barrett says the snakes are probably the biggest ever seen in Vermont.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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