On Wednesday, a man in Charles County, Maryland, was found dead in his home with more than 100 snakes, officials say. After a neighbor went to check on the man, saw him lying unconscious on the floor and called authorities for help, they arrived to find a total of 124 snakes in his home, include a 14-foot long Burmese python, all of whom were “meticulously cared for” in cages stacked throughout the Pomfret home. (NBC4 Washington)
“The collection included venomous snakes that are illegal to keep in Maryland,” Charles County spokesperson Jennifer Harris said. “The breeds found included pythons, rattlesnakes, cobras and black mambas… Our chief animal control officer said in his more than 30 years of experience, he had not encountered this kind of thing before.”
Fortunately, The Washington Post reports that the menagerie was in good hands:
Harris assured that the snakes were being taken care of safely, saying “Charles County Animal Control coordinated with reptile experts from North Carolina and Virginia to assist in the “unusual” situation”. The snakes are being transferred to professional handlers in those states.”
No cause of death has been released for the owner of the snakes, but Harris stressed there are no indications of foul play or that any of the reptiles killed him.
Per NBC News:
“We don't anticipate that there was any security issue with any of the snakes escaping,” Harris said. “He was well-known by his neighbors in the community, but nobody had just basically ever been inside his home to know that this part of the home life was going on.”
Harris said there was no evidence any snakes had escaped, and there is no cause for alarm or concern for the surrounding community.
