If you suffer from Ophidiophobia (AKA: the fear of snakes), then this is not the post for you. That’s because KOB 4 Albuquerque has reported that federal agents seized 60 snakes from a South Valley home… and 52 of them were venomous.
The raid took place as part of an investigation into a home that they believed was tied to drug and gun running. And while they did recover plenty of illegal items, the agents were shocked to find tanks filled with the snakes.
KOAT 7 Action News says that experts had to get involved in the removal of the snakes, noting that a bite from several of these reptiles would require immediate medical intervention. Not to mention one standout species, which one expert called the “most venomous snake on the planet.”
Now the snakes are being cared for by experts, but one can’t help but imagine what would’ve happened if they had gotten loose during the raid.
Agents Found Guns, Drugs, and Cash Alongside the Snakes
In addition to the snakes, agents recovered $22,000 in cash, a half pound of cocaine, and three guns at the South Valley property. Neighbors interviewed by KOAT 7 Action News say they were shocked by the discovery, but more so the snakes than the drugs.
“There are a lot of kids here,” one resident said. “And one of those goes out, and they’re gone. I just stay away from snakes. I’m really upset.”
Those snakes included pit vipers, mambas, cobras, and pythons, to name a few.
One Scary Discovery Was Hidden in the Collection
Connor Sharp, a reptile expert who captures and releases snakes, spoke to the reporter about the various species, saying that the inland taipan caught his eye. “Somebody having drop for drop the most venomous snake on the planet in captivity just outside of Albuquerque was pretty surprising to me, honestly,” he said.
“Probably no medical facilities in the state of New Mexico are going to have antivenom that would be used to treat a bite from an inland taipan,” he continued, highlighting just how dangerous this situation could’ve been if the snakes had gotten out into the residential neighborhood prior to the raid.
Some of the Snakes Had Names
One hilarious note from the report was that some of the 60 seized snakes had names, likely displayed on their enclosures. There were pythons named William and Sunset, and two cobras named Blizzard and (the aptly named) Pablo Escobar.
While the report doesn’t state if they were the only snakes with names, it’s clear that some of these creatures may have been the pets of the people living in the home.
Snake Bites Are on the Rise
Two different incidents with rattlesnake bites made the headlines recently, including a California woman who was bitten while checking on her rose garden, and a Montana man who was bitten while walking through some tall grass. When we’re already having a rise in venomous snake bites in the U.S., it’s scary to think that there could be even more dangerous snakes lurking in nearby homes.
Hopefully, this story serves as a warning to people about the dangers of keeping venomous snakes as pets, especially when it comes to those dangerous ones where antivenom may be harder to find.