ST. JOHN'S TELEGRAM (Newfoundland) 24 May 03 Charges pending against Nfld. man after poisonous snake seized

St. John's, Nfld. (CP): Charges are pending against a Newfoundland man after federal game officers seized a venomous rattlesnake from his home Friday.

The man told the officers he'd found the snake in Ontario when it was a baby seven years ago. He later brought it to Newfoundland and raised it as a pet, said the officers. The snake, an eastern Massasauga, is considered threatened in Ontario and throughout much of their range. Officers waited for an antidote to the snake's venom to be flown in from Ontario before they and provincial officers swooped down on the residence in St. John's, Nfld., with a search warrant.

They confiscated the snake without any resistance.

Les Sampson, a federal game officer from Nova Scotia, said there's no antidote in Newfoundland, which has no poisonous snakes.

"That snake has 35 milligrams of venom and to be fatal you need 25 mg," he said. "It's fortunate that nothing bad happened."

Sampson said a person would probably die six hours after receiving a bite from the rattlesnake unless treated with the antidote.

The owner's name wasn't released. The officers said he'll be charged with importing the wild snake into the province, which is prohibited under federal law.

If convicted, he could face fines of up to $25,000, said Guy Lafranchise, senior enforcement officer, wildlife trade, from the Canadian Wildlife Service's New Brunswick office.

The animal was confiscated after a three-month investigation by the Canadian Wildlife Service, Atlantic region.

Lafranchise said the investigation started after his office received a tip from a local person.

The man kept the snake in a large aquarium, which the officers said was a suitable home.

Sampson said the snake will be returned to the wilds of Ontario if it's deemed to be healthy, or it may wind up as a resident of the Toronto zoo.
Charges pending against Nfld. man after poisonous snake seized

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• NF Press: Charges pending against Nfld. man after poisonous snake seized - W von Papineäu, Sun May 25 20:40:28 2003