The owner of a private business on P.E.I. that breeds and sells snakes says his heart goes out to the families affected by the recent tragedy in New Brunswick.
Greg Heckbert, who operates the heckbertreptiles.com business in Brookvale says P.E.I. has very strict pet bylaws which are in place to protect the environment and the safety of local residents.
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON OWNING SNAKES AS PETS
Two young boys died from asphyxiation after an African rock python got loose in an apartment where they were having a sleepover.
"The tragedy in New Brunswick was a terrible accident which I am still waiting for all the details to be released,'' Heckbert told The Guardian. "This is not typical python behaviour. They are not malicious killers. They kill for food and bite if fearful of their lives.''
Heckbert has all the necessary permits for the snakes he breeds and sells. The province's Department of Fish and Wildlife even vouches for him.
He works mainly with boas and has been breeding these animals for more than 10 years, shipping the offspring all over North America.
"My facility is government inspected and every enclosure has three locks on the doors, with a separate key for each door. I have never had an escape.''
There are only three types of snakes that are legal to have on P.E.I.: garters, red bellies and green grass snakes. All others require a permit.
Heckbert applauds the province's strict permit process to keep certain snakes in captivity.
Heckbert isn't the only person in P.E.I. who has restricted snakes these days.
Little Ray's Reptile Zoo's travelling show is back at Old Home Week in Charlottetown.
Co-owner Geoff Battrum has a whole assortment with him, including an iguana, lizard and some reticulated pythons. The big one measures more than 14 feet in length and weighs 50 pounds.
Battrum says safety for staff and the public is their top priority. Fish and wildlife officials with the province will inspect their setup this morning while the permit process is taken care of a month in advance.
"All of their enclosures are specifically built for them . . . and they're all built escape proof,'' Battrum told The Guardian on Thursday. "Just for a little bit of added security, the snakes are packed up every night into their travel containers and we lock those containers in one of the cages so it's double security.''
He showed The Guardian that they also duct tape those travel containers.
Battrum said he's been working with these reptiles for nearly 10 years and is very careful about taking snakes out to show the public.
"The only snakes we will actually let people hold are the black rat snakes and when we do that a staff (person) will be holding (the snake's) head at all times. We never actually let go of the snake and we are always in control of the head, where the head is at and where it's going.''
And putting snakes around people's heads is an absolute no-no.
"We just stay away from that altogether. When I have the big python out I'll have him wrapped around me . . . and I'll be in control of his head.''
The owner of a private business on P.E.I. that breeds and sells snakes says his heart goes out to the families affected by the recent tragedy in New Brunswick.
Greg Heckbert, who operates the heckbertreptiles.com business in Brookvale says P.E.I. has very strict pet bylaws which are in place to protect the environment and the safety of local residents.
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON OWNING SNAKES AS PETS
Two young boys died from asphyxiation after an African rock python got loose in an apartment where they were having a sleepover.
"The tragedy in New Brunswick was a terrible accident which I am still waiting for all the details to be released,'' Heckbert told The Guardian. "This is not typical python behaviour. They are not malicious killers. They kill for food and bite if fearful of their lives.''
Heckbert has all the necessary permits for the snakes he breeds and sells. The province's Department of Fish and Wildlife even vouches for him.
He works mainly with boas and has been breeding these animals for more than 10 years, shipping the offspring all over North America.
"My facility is government inspected and every enclosure has three locks on the doors, with a separate key for each door. I have never had an escape.''
There are only three types of snakes that are legal to have on P.E.I.: garters, red bellies and green grass snakes. All others require a permit.
Heckbert applauds the province's strict permit process to keep certain snakes in captivity.
Heckbert isn't the only person in P.E.I. who has restricted snakes these days.
Little Ray's Reptile Zoo's travelling show is back at Old Home Week in Charlottetown.
Co-owner Geoff Battrum has a whole assortment with him, including an iguana, lizard and some reticulated pythons. The big one measures more than 14 feet in length and weighs 50 pounds.
Battrum says safety for staff and the public is their top priority. Fish and wildlife officials with the province will inspect their setup this morning while the permit process is taken care of a month in advance.
"All of their enclosures are specifically built for them . . . and they're all built escape proof,'' Battrum told The Guardian on Thursday. "Just for a little bit of added security, the snakes are packed up every night into their travel containers and we lock those containers in one of the cages so it's double security.''
He showed The Guardian that they also duct tape those travel containers.
Battrum said he's been working with these reptiles for nearly 10 years and is very careful about taking snakes out to show the public.
"The only snakes we will actually let people hold are the black rat snakes and when we do that a staff (person) will be holding (the snake's) head at all times. We never actually let go of the snake and we are always in control of the head, where the head is at and where it's going.''
And putting snakes around people's heads is an absolute no-no.
"We just stay away from that altogether. When I have the big python out I'll have him wrapped around me . . . and I'll be in control of his head.''
Owning snakes as pets in P.E.I.
• Importing snakes can only be done with permission from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• Harmless snakes, which grow up to two metres, are allowed only with a permit.
• Restricted wildlife permits can be obtained to keep certain species of snakes that grow up to three metres.
• Restricted permits requires officials to ensure owners are knowledgable and experienced with a course is recommended; owners must be capable of handling animals in a humane fashion; owners must have facilities for proper and humane care; and the premies and enclosure must be secure.
• Geoff Battrum, co-owner of Little Ray's Reptile Zoo, says snakes don't see people as a food source. Constrictors will only constrict in self defence and for food.
• Battrum says they don't recommend people owning big snakes as pets and those who do have snakes as pets should do their research and have proper, escape-proof enclosures.
