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Churchill Man Fined For Keeping Corn Snake

A 20 year old Churchill man appeared in the Latrobe Valley Law Courts on Monday June 18 2007 charged with keeping a controlled pest animal.

By Department of Sustainability - 25th June 2007 - Back to News

Mr Brian Beazley was convicted of keeping a Corn snake, fined $250 and ordered to pay $80 costs.

The Morwell Regional Response Unit called DSE Wildlife Officers to Mr Beazley’s property on February 21, where they seized the snake.

DSE Wildlife Officer Anthony Ball said Corn snakes are native to North America, but they thrive in most conditions.

"Corn snakes could establish viable breeding populations in Victoria if they were to escape from captivity or were intentionally released into the wild," Mr Ball said.

"They would then prey on Australia’s ground-dwelling marsupials and small birds, damaging these populations and providing direct competition to Australian reptiles."

Mr Ball said there was no evidence to suggest this man was involved in the illegal importation of these snakes, so he was not charged under the (Commonwealth) Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Penalties for possession of the snake are up to $110,000 fine and/or two years’ jail under the Commonwealth legislation.

Mr Ball urged anyone with information about illegal possession or trading of exotic reptiles such as Corn snakes to contact the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186. All calls will be taken in the strictest confidence.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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