Is the anxiety around exotic snake seizures necessary?
Posted August 21, 2013 10:16 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
ABBOTSFORD (NEWS1130) – An Abbotsford animal rescuer is accusing the province of unnecessarily creating panic about exotic snakes.
This comes after two venomous vipers were discovered in Langley.
The illegal snakes were euthanized, only days after 46 pythons were seized and killed after being found in a home in Mission.
Mike Hopcraft, known as the Reptile Guy, says there’s no doubt there are others in the province who own prohibited snakes, and people shouldn’t be shocked.
“Yes, there was a tragic accident in New Brunswick. Yes, one snake did kill a couple of kids. Yes, it sucks that that happened. But that’s one incident in the history of Canada that that has happened.”
Hopcroft says snakes aren’t here to hurt people. “Yes, there was an accident. It happened. But when you think about it realistically, dogs, horses, and even cats kill more people than snakes do. All the time.”
Hopcraft is upset Conservation Officers are capturing illegal snakes without having somewhere to bring them, and blames the officers for creating fear.
