LAS CRUCES SUN-NEWS (New Mexico) 31 January 08 Game officers seize 179 snakes at Deming home
Deming, N.M. (AP): Some 179 snakes—84 of them venomous—have been removed from the home of a Deming man who died after being bitten by one of the reptiles.
A canebrake rattlesnake bit James D. Bear, 37, on his right thumb last week while he was alone in the three-bedroom mobile home, where he kept and bred the snakes. Bear died Tuesday in an El Paso, Texas, hospital.
Deming police called the state Department of Game and Fish to Bear's home shortly after he was bitten to help with the snakes and to determine whether any federal or state laws had been broken.
Authorities said Bear did not have the required permits to possess, obtain or sell the snakes.
Game officers on Wednesday removed the snakes and materials relating to them after state District Judge Gary Jeffreys issued a warrant. The agency said Thursday that the confiscated snakes of various species were turned over to friends of Bear, who said they planned to take the reptiles to Texas, where they would be kept on behalf of Bear's family.
It's illegal to import any live wild animals, birds or fish into New Mexico without obtaining a permit from the Department of Game and Fish. Other regulations also apply to venomous snakes and the collection or sales of any wild animals.
Dan Brooks, chief of law enforcement for the department, said New Mexico controls wild animals brought into its borders for public safety reasons and to protect native game animals, birds and fish from contagious diseases.
The department currently is reviewing its rules over the importation, possession and sale of wild animals, birds and fish and is taking public comments.
Game officers seize 179 snakes at Deming home

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