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Walter Kidd Loses Venomous Snakes And Exotic Lizards Worth Thousands In N.C.

North Carolina Museum Of Natural Sciences

02/25/12 04:29 PM ET  AP

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. -- A North Carolina man is losing his exotic reptile collection worth $49,000 after police found dozens of venomous lizards and snakes in his home.

Fifty-one-year-old Walter Kidd of Hendersonville pleaded guilty Friday to 30 misdemeanor charges of possessing endangered animals and failing to properly label containers of poisonous snakes.

Police seized the reptiles in August after Kidd was bitten by an exotic venomous snake and rushed to a hospital. Officers said his mobile home was packed with snakes in plastic containers.

Kidd's attorney says the reptiles were not a danger because they were kept inside his home.

The creatures were taken to the state natural sciences museum in Raleigh.

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HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. -- A North Carolina man is losing his exotic reptile collection worth $49,000 after police found dozens of venomous lizards and snakes in his home. Fifty-one-year-old Walter Kidd...
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. -- A North Carolina man is losing his exotic reptile collection worth $49,000 after police found dozens of venomous lizards and snakes in his home. Fifty-one-year-old Walter Kidd...
Filed by Michael McLaughlin  | 
 
 
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10:29 PM on 03/23/2012
I've never understood the urge to have reptiles much less venomous snakes as pets.
11:52 AM on 03/12/2012
Wonder if those cops double checked those supposed poisonous snakes.....to make sure that they weren't republicans, put in those containers to eat their meals of rodents??
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
HowlingVoyager
The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy
12:01 PM on 02/29/2012
I've read more than a few - and received a few - responses on this issue from a rather frightening number of people who believe it was this man's right to possess 'venomous' - fair point on that response - snakes and reptiles regardless of zoning laws, possession of exotic animals laws, proximity to neighbors and or children, proper safe containment - MOBILE HOME! - or, well... societal restrictions of any kind.

My question is this. How many - and please be honest - of the 'supporters' on this issue would be the first to go screeching to the authorities like over-caffeinated banshees if the 'Don't Tread on Me King Cobra Ranch and Petting Zoo' opened up shop in an ill maintained trailer home on the corner lot in their neighborhood?

Please, be honest.
06:29 PM on 02/28/2012
This city is about 90 min away from me; so glad they have taken his snakes away; would not want any of them lose in the mountains and multiply like pythons in FL; this is so stupid for common people to have dangerous snakes; think you should have to get a license and be inspected every year and with ONE violation then you forfeit license and lose snakes; when you are endangering other peoples lives there must be accountability somewhere
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Louie Rey
11:20 AM on 02/28/2012
It's one thing to own domesticated animals (I, for one, have two dogs, a cat, an aquarium in my house and a fish pond on my property), it's quite another to possess endangered and dangerous and deadly creatures. In a mobile home no less. What the hell was he thinking? If the bite that he suffered proved fatal before he was able to get out of his mobile home, what would have happened to all of those animals that were caged in there? They'd all have eventually died themselves so what the hell was the point? Idiot.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jhnnxn
Won't say it face to face? Don't post it online!
07:53 PM on 03/08/2012
MOre poeple are killed by domestic dogs than venomous snakes in the US. By far.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Louie Rey
09:45 AM on 03/13/2012
That's true but part of the reason for that is that there are millions of domestic dogs in this country as opposed to the number of exotic animals like this guy had. A similar analogy that I can think of is about, believe it or not, dementia. Statistics now say that there are a lot more people suffering a form of dementia now than say fifty years ago but the fact of the matter is that people are living that much longer now than fifty years ago. Therefore, the numbers are skewed as a result of not being on a level field.
10:39 AM on 02/28/2012
Let's clear something up: he did not lose his snakes. They were (rightfully) taken from him. Also, I doubt the dinosaur in the picture had anything to do with either the snakes or Mr. Kidd.
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DanORants
Cancer is progressive.
11:26 AM on 02/28/2012
lol. Before I read the article I thought his poisonous snakes got loose in a museum!
09:50 AM on 02/28/2012
There are more venomous snakes in N.C. then any other state in the U.S. Its funny how the lawyer turns into a reptile expert
10:42 AM on 02/28/2012
According to a "google" search......California has more venomous snakes with
8....

" California. It is home to 8 species of venomous snakes, all Rattlesnakes:
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
Great Basin Rattlesnake
Northern Pacific Rattlesnake
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Red Diamondback
Sidewinder Speckled Rattlesnake
Mojave Rattlesnake

Florida comes in second with six species of venomous snakes, three Rattlesnakes(Eastern Diamondback, Timber, and Pygmy) and three others(Copperhead, Water Moccasin, and Coral Snake). "

Evidently....NC is in a "tie" with Florida with 6 species of venomous snakes........

According to the NC Cooperative Extension Agency:

" Of the 37 species of snakes throughout North Carolina, only six are venomous:

Copperhead (found throughout NC)
Canebrake Rattlesnake (found throughout NC)
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (found in southeastern NC)
Pigmy Rattlesnake (found in southeastern NC)
Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin (found in wetland areas in the eastern half of NC)
Coral Snake (the rarest, found in the south and southeastern areas of NC) "
10:59 AM on 02/28/2012
I meant to say NC has more snake per sq mile then any other state
09:20 AM on 02/28/2012
lets hope that none of them got lose hey!
This comment has been removed due to violations of our [Guidelines]
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
karen lyons kalmenson
i poem/paint, sometimes, i ain't
08:26 AM on 02/28/2012
Man has to be a tad possessed to possess these animals. Not fair to them, nor to anyone who might run afoul of their fangs
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DDL13
08:20 AM on 02/28/2012
The laws are the laws and if the guy wants to own dangerous snakes in a trailer then move to a state that allows it. )florida is one) You just can't have these types of snakes roaming free even if its inside your home, if they get out someone will get bit and then the owner will be sued and then everyone will be screaming at the authorities for not doing their job and protecting the citizens.
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acarioti
Al Carioti lives in Orlando, Flo
08:18 AM on 02/28/2012
Mercy snakes! Snakes Alive!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
karen lyons kalmenson
i poem/paint, sometimes, i ain't
08:27 AM on 02/28/2012
Snakes on a plane...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
pepper1311
POGS are dirt
08:00 AM on 02/28/2012
He did nothing wrong the snakes were used in his church! Big government interfering with Christians again.
08:13 AM on 02/28/2012
What?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
pepper1311
POGS are dirt
08:27 AM on 02/28/2012
Have ever seen the churches that use snakes? They believe if the snake bites god will protect you.
12:19 PM on 02/28/2012
Try getting out of your mom's basement sometime. Then you won't be so obsessed with dragging politics into every story you read.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
pepper1311
POGS are dirt
02:28 PM on 02/28/2012
No I'm 64own a large farm and several investment properties. I guess I'm one the 1% you kids hate.
07:50 AM on 02/28/2012
""Not a danger because they were kept inside his home"?? They bit him didn't they? Good luck Mr Attorney in getting that one to float!
06:46 AM on 02/28/2012
another loss of freedom. can`t have anything dangerous unless it is aimed at the unborn.
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joebikerchef
Mom says I'm special
07:50 AM on 02/28/2012
Ugh...Ridiculous comment
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
greenbabel
Human, as long as it's convenient.
07:53 AM on 02/28/2012
So, you're okay with loss of freedom, as long at it's aimed at women's reproductive rights?
04:09 PM on 02/28/2012
how about the baby`s rights?