WKRN (Nashville, Tennessee) 11 July 06 "Reptile, Snake Raid Nets Dozens"
Monday night, agents from the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency converged on a home in rural Trousdale County. The agents, who told News 2 they suspected something wasn't quite right in this home for months, were serving a search warrant.
Agents were tipped several months ago that the suspect was housing a few snakes. The information was right. Once inside the home, agents found snakes housed throughout the home; including ten rattle snakes, one cobra and an alligator.
The agents said the owner knew what he was doing because of the elaborate set-up within the home. In all, there were about 25 snakes in the home, but agents only removed the venomous ones.
Not only is the practice dangerous, it is illegal. A person cannot keep a venomous snake in Tennessee without the proper permits. The owner of the home did not have any thus wildlife officials said the investigation will continue.
For now, the snakes are housed at unknown location. After the case is settled they could go to a zoo or a natural habitat.
Reptile, Snake Raid Nets Dozens