SUDBURY - Sparking outrage online, reports that at least three ball pythons have been found dead in the Coniston area also comes as disturbing news to Northern Exotics owner Dennis Epp.
It’s unclear how the snakes ended up within proximity of a hiking trail, but if they were abandoned while still alive, Epp said it’d be a clear-cut case of animal cruelty.
“They’re a cold-blooded animal and can’t deal with our cool weather,” he said of the snakes native to west and central Africa, which wouldn’t have lasted long in the Northern Ontario outdoors.
“If someone takes on a pet, it’s their responsibility to provide for them. There’s never an excuse to just dump your animal.”
Rather than abandon the snakes, he said, “They could have reached out to us and we could have seen what we could have done.”
That said, he clarified that while they’ll take on animals whenever they can, there are space limitations at their shop on The Kingsway, and overcrowded premises can constitute animal cruelty in its own right, which they avoid doing.
“Anything we sell we’ll take back, but I can’t do that for everybody,” Epp said.
It’s similar with other organizations, Epp said, noting that local animal rescues take in cats and dogs but aren’t receptive to accepting reptiles.
A representative from the Ontario SPCA Sudbury and District Animal Centre affirmed as much in conversation with Sudbury.com, saying they do not take reptiles and aren’t certain who might take them. The municipal animal shelter is limited to accepting dogs and cats.
The Ontario Reptile Rescue in southern Ontario takes surrenders but currently have more than 200 animals in their care and can’t accept intakes.
CTV News reported last week on the three dead pythons found in the Coniston area, which followed up on social media outrage in response to public posts about the snakes’ discovery.
“This angers me. Get them as pets and then release them into a climate they are not used to. Whoever had these snakes should never own anything again,” one commenter wrote, distilling a common sentiment among those to weigh in.
“Why have a snake if you’re going to abandon them to die slowly,” another commenter wrote. “They can not survive in areas they aren't native to. This is cruel. If you don't want your python, turn it into people who will make sure they are cared for.”
Ball pythons are among the most popular reptilian pets, Epp said, joining geckos and bearded dragons.
They’re popular, he said, “because they don’t get very big and they’re easy to care for. … They’re that perfect size and have a great temperament."
“When they’re scared they roll up into a ball and hide their head,” he said. “That’s also why they’re a good pet snake, because they’re rolling themselves in a ball, which is not biting a person.”
Ball pythons are also bred in various colourations, called morphs, which Epp said has also helped make them trendy.
Although relatively easy to care for, he said the key thing is maintaining proper temperatures in their enclosures, using heating lights and pads.
Temperatures, he said, “are your No. 1 most important thing, which will affect feeding, health. Too-low temperatures will risk respiratory issues and other illnesses, and too high you risk heat exhaustion.”
They eat rodents (Epp recommends frozen thawed rodents rather than live ones, which can attack snakes), and live in small enclosures.
Abuse and neglect of animals can be reported to the Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre by phoning 1-833-926-4625.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.