THE STANDARD (Warrnambool, Australia) 16 April 08 Fangs for nothing - illegal reptile a real menace (Alex Johnson)

A 24-year-Old Warrnambool woman was being questioned last night after investigators seized an exotic illegal snake from her Kerr Street home.

A Department of Sustain- ability and Environment officer said the fast-breeding snake was known as "the rabbit of the reptile world".

Police, DSE and DPI officers launched the raid yesterday afternoon and were surprised to find the snake, which is native to North America, in regional Victoria.

Corn snakes are not venomous but are docile and popular as pets in the USA.

DSE senior investigator (exotic wildlife) Keith Larner said the consequences of corn snakes escaping could be serious.

"These snakes breed like rabbits and they thrive in most conditions," Mr Larner said.

"Corn snakes could establish viable breeding populations in Victoria if they were to escape from captivity or were intentionally released into the wild."

The snakes could also carry incurable exotic diseases, he said.

"It's quite significant because it's not often that we get seizures of exotic snakes in regional parts of Victoria."

The woman could face fines of up to $110,000 and/or two years' jail for possessing the one-metre corn snake, he said.

Mr Larner said the orange snake had been bred specifically for its distinctive colour.

It could sell for up to $1000 on the black market but he said smaller ones were often worth more because owners liked to watch them grow.

"There's always a demand for these type of things."

DSE investigators had not yet determined the woman's motive for owning the snake but Australia has a number of illegal breeders.

Those found to have smuggled them into Australia face fines of up to $110,000 and/or 10 years' jail.

Mr Larner would not divulge how investigators learnt about the snake in Warrnambool.

He appealed to anyone with information about illegal exotic reptiles to contact the DSE on 136186.
Fangs for nothing - illegal reptile a real menace

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