Officials seize 40 snakes in raid

34 of the serpents are venomous; 4-foot-long alligator also found in home.



When Trisha Kraff first descended into the basement of a home in Vancouver’s Shumway neighborhood Thursday, she found herself in the presence of 40 caged serpents, the vast majority of them venomous.



Among the poisonous snakes found were puff adders and a rhinoceros viper — and rattlesnakes including red diamondback, albino, Hopi and Mojave varieties, officials said.



“It was a little unnerving,” Kraff, an officer with Clark County Animal Protection & Control, said later. “All of them were rattling and they were not happy to have us there.”



The discovery came late Thursday morning during a raid of a home at 815 E. 32nd St. by animal control officers, Vancouver police and wildlife agents. The officials had a court warrant to search the home for illegal snakes, Kraff said.



The 40 snakes, including 34 that are venomous, were found in cages affixed to the wall and looked well-fed and healthy, officials said. A biologist and trained snake handler helped transfer them from the cages into portable containers.



Officials took the poisonous snakes to a reptile rescue organization.



The half-dozen non-venomous snakes, including a reticulated python, were taken to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington on Northeast 192nd Avenue in far-east Vancouver.



Cooperative owner



Officials also found a reptile they described as an alligator, named Jake, that also was taken to the shelter.



The snakes’ owner, whom officers declined to identify, told them he keeps snakes as a hobby and has worked with snakes for 18 years.



The man was cooperative with officials during the raid, and surrendered ownership of the snakes to the county.



The man was not arrested, but officers said they plan to send their reports to prosecuting attorneys for possible charges of illegal snake and alligator possession, and possible permit violations.



Once the legalities are sorted out, officials may try to find homes for the snakes.



County records show the home is owned by Nelson B. Keliipio Jr., but it hadn’t been confirmed Thursday night that he owned the snakes.



On Thursday evening, a man inside the home waved away a Columbian reporter who knocked at the front door. After that, The Columbian was unable to reach the man by phone.



The outside of the ordinary-looking home appeared tidy, with a tether ball pole and small garden.



Officials said children live in the home where the snakes were kept, but officials were aware of no one being bitten. The snakes’ owner had taken precautions for the children’s safety, officials said.



Once the reptiles had been delivered to the shelter, and her paperwork gathered, Kraff said she’d never dealt with so many snakes and was done for the night. The reptiles had ranged from about six inches long to nearly five feet.



“I’ve got the venomous snakes out of my hair,” she said. “The rest of my day is a piece of cake.”



John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.

www.columbian.com/news/2010/jan/14/officials-seize-40-snakes-in-raid/

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