Local Man Charged After Collecting Rattlesnakes And Bringing Them To Utah
By Ginny Reese
January 4, 2021
A Springville man is being charged with bringing venomous wildlife into the state. The man was catching rattlesnakes in Arizona and bringing them back to his Utah home.
The 35-year-old was charged with three counts of taking, transferring, selling or purchasing protected wildlife. This is considered a class B misdemeanor.
According to the affidavit that was filed in the 4th District Court, the man went to Arizona back in September for the purpose of collecting reptiles.
The man reportedly brought back to his home a black-tailed rattlesnake and a tiger rattlesnake, the warrant states.
Investigators said that "it is illegal to import, collect, take, or possess any species categorized as controlled or prohibited in the state of Utah" and "all venomous snakes are classified as prohibited in Utah."
The warrant was served on the man's home back in November, where he lives with his children.
According to KSL, the warrant states that officers from the Division of Wildlife Resources seized a western diamondback rattlesnake, a black-tailed rattlesnake, and a sidewinder rattlesnake.
Photo: Getty Images
Source: KSL