MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. -- A 9-foot Burmese python found in Manatee County could possibly be the python that has been missing for more than a month, however authorities don't know for sure.
Justin Matthews with Matthews Wildlife Rescue posted photos on Wednesday that showed a dead Burmese python found near Port Manatee.
According to his post, Matthews said it could possibly be the same python that went missing in the Ancient Oaks neighborhood in mid-October.
The python was found Wednesday morning by Brooke Dawson when she was driving along US 41 near Port Manatee .
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Matthews says it appeared the python was run over by a car.
When the search began, an outdoor surveillance camera captured the image of the 8 to 10-foot snake and two cats in the same picture.
As the search continued, at least five cats went missing in a Parrish neighborhood where wildlife officials believed the Burmese python was hiding.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission tells us there's no way to know for sure if it's the same python -- but it could be highly unlikely.
An investigator with FWC met with Dawson to recover the dead python to try and figure out if its a possible pet that may have been dumped.
At this time -- it did not appear to have a microchip that's required under state law for owners to have a Burmese python.
The two snakes would have been more than six miles apart -- a 13 minute drive between the two location -- something that would not be impossible for a python to travel.
However, Matthews with Matthews Wildlife Rescue plans to still search the Ancient Oaks neighborhood until he knows for sure.
The FWC urges anyone who ever finds a Burmese python dead or alive to report it immediately, they have a website dedicated to reporting them and a phone number, 888-IVE-GOT1 (888- 483-4681)
