Snake rescuer wants to sell snakes

LEHIGHTON, Pa., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania animal rescuer says he is no longer able to care for more than 150 snakes, some of them venomous, abandoned by a dealer.

The snakes were seized in July from Serpent's Den, a store in Lehighton, The Allentown Morning Call reported. Police said that the store was owned by Steven Markevich of Jim Thorpe, Pa., who has disappeared.

The owner of a neighboring business who tipped off police that venomous snakes were being kept unsecured said he had not seen Markevich for three months.

Chris Foley, who now has custody of the snakes, has petitioned for permission to sell them. He said that antivenin for treatment if he is bitten is not available locally.

The collection includes several rattlesnakes of different species and deadly cobras.

When police raided the store, they found a boa constrictor roaming loose. Other snakes, including the venomous ones, were in wooden boxes or in containers with lids that could be easily removed.

Nine snakes were dead, and many appeared sick. Three have since died.