ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — It’s been almost a year since an Orlando community was concerned about a venomous snake on the loose.
Next week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation commission will vote on changing how owners can handle venomous reptiles.
The proposed regulations would include prohibiting owners from free-handling any non-native venomous reptile outside of an escape-proof room.
Free-handling means without the use of tongs or gloved and escape proof means all windows, gaps and doors are secure.
Currently, there are no requirements for where a venomous reptile may be handled.
For example, a licensed owner could handle a king cobra outside without being in an escape-proof room.
A king cobra, named Elvis, escaped from Mike Kennedy’s Orlando home last year. It was found about a month later and no one was hurt.
Snake breeder Jesse Black agrees with the proposed regulations. Black has a permit with state wildlife officers to own venomous snakes, and his collection includes close to 100 snakes.
“The cobra incident was a one-off thing. The only rule that needs to be changed is secondary confinement,” Black said. “The room that the cases are in needs to be escape-proof. If that’s the case, all these problems would go away.”
Black said if the new rules go into effect, he would already be in compliance.
Exotic animal owner fights Wildlife Commission efforts to...
Updated: ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - When a king cobra escaped from Michael Kennedy's west Orange County home in September, state wildlife officials took steps to strip his license to own the dangerous animal and dozens of others.
Officials to discuss rule changes for venomous reptile owners
Updated: ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - It could be more than a year before the owner of a king cobra that escaped in Orange County is tried in criminal court for failing to keep the snake enclosed. Mike Kennedy is accused of violating Florida Fish and Wildlife rules by failing to immediately report the deadly snake's escape.
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