A Burmese Python at Coney Island, Rattlesnake in Wawarsing
On July 12, Environmental Conservation Police Officer (ECO) Maynard observed a large snake near Riegelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island with a crowd of about a dozen people, including small children, gathered around it. An individual with a second snake—a ball python—around his neck was handling the larger snake and showing it off to the crowd. Officer Maynard questioned the subject, who identified the larger snake as a Burmese python and admitted to owning it. Burmese pythons are considered dangerous and are illegal to possess in New York State. The snake owner received a ticket for illegal possession and the snake was confiscated. ECO Grispin assisted with transferring the snake to the Nassau County SPCA. In addition to being potentially dangerous to people, Burmese pythons introduced into the environment can severely impact our native wildlife populations.
On July 28, ECO Zullo responded to a complaint about a timber rattlesnake left inside a bucket outside a residence in the Town of Wawarsing. Officer Zullo investigated and determined that an individual removed the snake from another property and brought it back to his apartment inside the bucket. ECO Zullo learned the same subject also possessed the head of another timber rattlesnake in a freezer inside his apartment. The defendant admitted to capturing the live rattlesnake and possessing the snake head in his freezer and voluntarily surrendered both to the Officer. The subject received tickets for taking/possessing a threatened species in New York State, returnable to the Town of Wawarsing Court. The live rattlesnake was released back into the wild and the snake head was secured as evidence.
