A Market Basket grocery store in Manchester, New Hampshire, had a surprise visitor in their shipment of bananas last week – an Ornate Cat-eyed Snake, a mildly venomous species native to Ecuador. NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division officer Griffin McKeown spoke to the employee who found the snake and confirmed that it was unharmed. The snake has since been rehomed with Rainforest Reptile Shows Inc., an educational organization specializing in exotic animal care. Vice president Mack Ralbovsky assured consumers that snakes in shipments are uncommon and not something to worry about, as they typically only find small lizards or frogs. The company plans to post a video updating the public on the snake’s progress and allowing them to vote on a name. The snake, a nocturnal species that primarily feeds on amphibians and lizards, requires specialized care and attention. NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division noted that it is illegal to possess venomous snakes in New Hampshire, with the exception of the hog-nosed snake. This incident marks the first time they have encountered a venomous snake needing rehoming.
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