City council hears concerns for snakes at public events

Mary Ann Tritt rattled city hall with her fear of snakes Monday night.

Tritt went told Bonners Ferry City Council that when she went to the Rod Benders Car Show, on June 6,  she recoiled at the site of a 5 1/2 foot long python wrapped around its owner neck.  She was so frightened by the snake she had to go home.

Tritt asked city council to consider making it illegal to bring snakes and other pets to public functions.

“It would be nice if I could have had a warning that I was coming up on the man and snake,” said Tritt.  “I wish he would advertise that he is displaying snakes at public functions.”

City council and Bonners Ferry Police Chief Rick Alonzo scanned through city ordinances concerning animals and searched for a way to help Tritt.

“There is nothing in the ordinance that says a snake can’t be downtown,” said Alonzo.  “Animal control officers can apprehend any wild animal that is wandering at large causing a nuisance, but if someone is carrying it or it is on a leash, we can not impound it.”

City council members could not find an ordinance that would prevent the displaying of snakes but recognized that not everyone enjoys the creatures.

A animal nuisance is described as an a wild animal “at large” chasing people, getting into trash, making messes on peoples lawns or being loud, according to the city ordinance.

“What can be a nuisance to one person is another person’s pet,” said Mayor Dave Anderson. “It is sold as a pet, treated as a pet, and it is not running free it is around his (the owners) neck.”

Brian Murray of Bonners Ferry owns the serpents in Tritt’s tale.

Both are boa constrictors, which means they sqeeze their pray, suffocating them before they swallow them whole.

 ‘Flower’ is a 2-year old corn snake and ‘Boo’ is a 2-year-old python, whose name appears to be spelled out with his markings.  Both are a little over  5 feet long. 

Murray said that Boo and Flower are handled on a regular basis.  they are not slimy, dirty, nasty or poisonous.  They are docile and not likely to squeeze any tighter than they have to, to keep from falling.

“They are not going to hurt anyone. I personally think I am doing a service to the community’s kids and adults by showing them there is nothing to be afraid of,” said Murray.  “I don’t walk up to people, especially if they look afraid. I let people walk up to me.”

Murray takes his snakes to the Farmer’s Market every weekend. 

“If I can see someone is afraid, I will stand still and let them pass me by.  I am not out there to try and scare people and I try to avoid contact with people who are afraid,” he said.

Murray apologized for offending Tritt.

“I would tell her, I am sorry you are afraid of snakes.  Everyone is afraid of something to extent and I am not trying to scare anyone.   I am trying to introduce particularly to kids, that you don’t have to be afraid of them,” he said.  To be perfectly honest, knowledge is power.  The more you know, the stronger you are, and you can face your fear to try and make it a little less.”

Murray said that he displays his snakes in a picture window at his home on Ash Street.  He has no problem introducing anyone who is interested to his snakes.