A trail camera captured a peculiar sight that snowballed into something much more: a man was spotted searching through a protected section of a Connecticut forest, all while carrying a snake hook. Nearly a year later, authorities searched a warehouse connected to an investigation involving the same man and seized 46 venomous snakes.
26-year-old Tyler Foster of New Haven was photographed inside a prohibited section of Meshomasic State Forest in Glastonbury on Aug. 24, 2025, according to arrest-warrant details reported by CT Insider. The area is closed annually between April 15 and Oct. 17 to protect timber rattlesnake habitats.
Jump ahead to June 24, 2026, and new developments arose. Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Connecticut State Police searched a warehouse in Hamden owned by 26-year-old Brian Roman. According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), authorities seized 49 reptiles, including 46 venomous snakes.
The seizure itself was announced earlier this summer, but newly reported details from Foster’s trespassing warrant reveal even more about the investigation that led up to his arrest. CT Insider reports that investigators had previously encountered Foster in that same protected forest area and had been investigating the illegal possession and sale of venomous snakes.
Trail Cameras Picked Up On A Man With A Snake Hook
According to the warrant outlined by CT Insider, trail-camera images from August 2025 showed a bearded man wearing a backpack and carrying a snake hook, which is a curved tool used to handle serpents. Investigators said the man was seen using the hook to search through brush inside the closed area.
Authorities identified the man as Foster, whom the warrant described as a primary suspect in an investigation involving the illegal possession and sale of venomous snakes.
During the June 24 search of the Hamden warehouse, officials recovered an assortment of dangerous reptiles. DEEP says the collection included 13 timber rattlesnakes, multiple other rattlesnake species, two mangrove pit vipers and a Cape cobra, in addition to the two anacondas and water monitor.
Authorities Seized 46 Venomous Snakes From A Warehouse
Foster and the warehouse owner later turned themselves in and were each charged with 49 counts of illegal possession of a wild animal without a permit and 13 counts involving endangered or threatened species. Both were released on $5,000 bond, according to DEEP.
DEEP said the reptiles are considered dangerous and cannot legally be possessed in Connecticut without the appropriate permits.
Timber rattlesnakes themselves receive special protection in Connecticut. CT Insider names the timber rattlesnake as one of the state’s endangered species, and in a wildlife write-up, DEEP warns that anyone collecting one can face fines or legal action.