On July 12, 2026, officers from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) seized a Burmese python from a private individual who was showing the reptile to a gathering of onlookers on the Riegelmann Boardwalk at Coney Island. The animal was taken into custody after the owner allowed the crowd to view the large snake, prompting DEC officials to intervene under state law.
The incident occurred along the popular boardwalk, a location frequented by tourists and residents alike. According to the department, the python was identified as a large exotic snake, a category that New York law expressly prohibits private ownership of without a special permit. The DEC, which is responsible for enforcing wildlife regulations throughout the state, acted in accordance with these statutes, removing the python from the public area and placing it under the agency's control.
New York regulations ban the private possession of sizable non‑native snakes such as Burmese pythons, which can grow to considerable lengths and pose ecological and public safety concerns. The DEC regularly monitors compliance with these rules and has the authority to confiscate animals that are held illegally. This seizure underscores the agency's ongoing efforts to curb the private trade in exotic reptiles and to prevent potential releases into the environment, where such species could threaten native wildlife. The python will be held by the department pending further action in accordance with state wildlife law.