A 10-foot Burmese python was surrendered to the Chilton County Humane Society recently.

Many people buy the larger species of pythons as juveniles, not realizing they will grow too large for an inexperienced snake owner to handle, said Joe Murphy, humane society director.

A snake of this size or larger requires a large enclosure for proper thermo-regulation in captivity. The proper care and caging of a snake this size will can become expensive and is not something an inexperienced snake owner is prepared for. Owning a reptile can be very rewarding, but it can also be a lot of work, Murphy said

Some reptiles can live for many years and grow to very large sizes, so it is

recommended that people do research and make sure they are prepared to provide proper care for their new pet before purchasing.

This includes proper caging, food items and cage cleaning, Murphy said.