It might mean no snakes on the plains -- or at least none in one area of southeastern Manitoba.



The RM of Stuartburn took another step to a ban on keeping dangerous snakes, passing second reading of a bylaw that would ban dangerous snakes in the municipality.



The motion arose after residents learned that a couple who recently moved to Vita keep snakes, including a boa constrictor.



Council also dismissed an attempt by the couple, Hanna and Dustin Bergstrom, to have their pets grandfathered from the bylaw, since the snakes were in Vita before the legislation. Council said no.



"It's discrimination. It's harassment," said a disappointed Dustin Bergstrom. "If I have to get rid of my snakes, I'll move away. This isn't right."



The Bergstroms have backing from a local organization that represents reptile and amphibian enthusiasts.



Daemon Nightshade, of the Manitoba Herpetocultural Society, said in an interview the move to ban snakes is "a blatant case of fear-mongering.



"It has gone from the town trying to preserve their way of life to them trying to get rid of this couple."



Last July, more than 70 residents from the municipality, armed with a petition containing more than 300 signatures, went to a council meeting to support a bylaw banning snakes.



The bylaw came up after residents discovered the Bergstroms, who moved into Vita in May, had snakes, including a boa constrictor.



The council will look at giving the bylaw the third and final reading at an upcoming meeting.



Once approved, the bylaw would force people with certain types of snakes, including pythons, boas, and venomous snakes, to get rid of them within 60 days.



The bylaw would not apply to travelling shows or schools.



Any person who violates the proposed bylaw can be fined up to $1,000.



Nightshade said the bylaw goes too far, even farther than Winnipeg's exotic animals bylaw which restricts certain types of snakes by naming which ones aren't allowed.



"They (Stuartburn) have essentially banned every snake on the planet," he said, noting the proposed bylaw defines dangerous snakes as a constrictor or venomous snake.



"A snake has to subdue prey. They either use venom or constriction. The only snake that isn't either is a garter snake and they are indigenous, come under the Wildlife Act, so they are illegal to keep as a pet."



Nightshade said while some snakes are allowed in Winnipeg, boa constrictors are not, so if the couple keeps their snakes they have to move to a municipality that allows the reptiles.

www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/rm-a-step-closer-to-passing-ban-on-exotic-snakes-65138417.html?viewAllComments=y

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• RM a step closer to passing ban - EricWI, Wed Oct 21 17:44:51 2009