LA CROSSE TRIBUNE (Wisconsin) 09 March 05 Onalaska sheds old snake ordinance, adds new one (Paul Sloth)
Onalaska, Wis.: Snake owners struck a victory Tuesday night when the Onalaska Common Council approved changing the city's exotic animal ordinance.
The new ordinance slithered its way through months of committee meetings before getting its third and final reading at the council's meeting Tuesday night. It takes effect immediately.
Michael Bechtel, a La Crosse Central High School science teacher who lives in Onalaska, helped draft the new ordinance to allow snakes up to 9 feet long. Owners will have to register any snake exceeding that length with the city.
The previous ordinance prohibited owning any constrictor-type snake longer than 6 feet.
The new ordinance also prohibits owning four breeds of snake: rock pythons, reticulated pythons, scrub pythons and green anacondas.
Onalaska sheds old snake ordinance, adds new one