shaggybill
11-25-03, 12:35 AM
Court Cases Boost Aquarium Reptile Collection
posted November 20, 2003
Two recent citations by Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency officers has boosted the reptile collection at the Tennessee Aquarium.
TWRA officers said they turned over to the Aquarium a large Eastern diamondback rattlesnake found at a house in Hixson.
And, in Ooltewah they took in a corn snake, two copperheads, two rattlesnakes and two worm snakes, which were also turned over to the Aquarium.
Officer Matt Majors said Aquarium officials were especially happy to get the Eastern diamondback rattler, saying they needed it for an educational display.
He said the TWRA was contacted by the sheriff's department, who had spotted the deadly snake at the residence of Zachary Brown at 1117 Fieldstone a couple of days earlier.
Brown, a 21-year-old Chattanooga State student, appeared before General Sessions Court Judge Bob Moon on Thursday morning.
Judge Moon sentenced him to two days of public works with the TWRA.
Brown said he got the snake from another person, who found it off of Moses Road. He said he had kept it for 13 months.
Judge Moon said all wildlife in Tennessee, including snakes, belong to the state and can be kept by private individuals only by permit.
<b><i>He said the Eastern diamondback rattler is on the state endangered species list.</i></b>
Judge Moon said snakes are important to the ecosystem. He said, "England would probably have not had the Bubonic Plague if it had had diamondback rattlers to kill the rats. Everything has a purpose."
Officers said they found the assortment of snakes and a homemade snake handling pole at the home of John A. Felts, 72, at 5909 Main St., Ooltewah.
Felts called in to say he could not come to court because of an infected foot.
Judge Moon passed that case to Jan. 29 at 8:30 a.m., but said it will not be delayed again.
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I wasnt aware that EDB's were present in TN! This judge seems to have a soft spot for snakes, but unless I am mistaken, I think he needs to look at a distribution map.
.
posted November 20, 2003
Two recent citations by Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency officers has boosted the reptile collection at the Tennessee Aquarium.
TWRA officers said they turned over to the Aquarium a large Eastern diamondback rattlesnake found at a house in Hixson.
And, in Ooltewah they took in a corn snake, two copperheads, two rattlesnakes and two worm snakes, which were also turned over to the Aquarium.
Officer Matt Majors said Aquarium officials were especially happy to get the Eastern diamondback rattler, saying they needed it for an educational display.
He said the TWRA was contacted by the sheriff's department, who had spotted the deadly snake at the residence of Zachary Brown at 1117 Fieldstone a couple of days earlier.
Brown, a 21-year-old Chattanooga State student, appeared before General Sessions Court Judge Bob Moon on Thursday morning.
Judge Moon sentenced him to two days of public works with the TWRA.
Brown said he got the snake from another person, who found it off of Moses Road. He said he had kept it for 13 months.
Judge Moon said all wildlife in Tennessee, including snakes, belong to the state and can be kept by private individuals only by permit.
<b><i>He said the Eastern diamondback rattler is on the state endangered species list.</i></b>
Judge Moon said snakes are important to the ecosystem. He said, "England would probably have not had the Bubonic Plague if it had had diamondback rattlers to kill the rats. Everything has a purpose."
Officers said they found the assortment of snakes and a homemade snake handling pole at the home of John A. Felts, 72, at 5909 Main St., Ooltewah.
Felts called in to say he could not come to court because of an infected foot.
Judge Moon passed that case to Jan. 29 at 8:30 a.m., but said it will not be delayed again.
___________________________________________
I wasnt aware that EDB's were present in TN! This judge seems to have a soft spot for snakes, but unless I am mistaken, I think he needs to look at a distribution map.
.