WJXT (Jacksonville, Florida) 26 July 05 Jacksonville Woman Cited After Snakes Escape Twice
Jacksonville, Florida: A 55-year-old woman was issued two misdemeanor citations after her two pythons -- along with five monitor lizards -- escaped from her Southside home.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued Michele Cuartero a criminal complaint for escaped/free roaming snakes and lizards after police responded twice in June to reports of the snakes roaming the neighborhood around her Nain Road home.
On June 3, the 13-foot male albino Burmese python was returned to Robert Harwood. On June 7, the same snake got loose and was captured again. Harwood was not located and the snake was turned over to the Jacksonville Herpetological Society Reptile Rescue, where it is being kept as evidence in the case.
A FWC investigator issued the criminal citations to Cuartero, the reptiles' admitted owner, on July 21.
The 8-foot female python and the monitor lizards remain at large, according to FWC officials.
Wildlife officials said the snakes pose a potential danger to pets and native wildlife. The monitor lizards pose a threat to small pets and wildlife, in particular birds. Plus the reptiles themselves are at risk because they are not acclimated to the local urban environment.
If the snake or lizards are located, officials advise calling the FWC Wildlife Alert at (888) 404-3922.
Jacksonville Woman Cited After Snakes Escape Twice