A Bay Shore man plead guilty September 5 to selling wild animals as pets after investigators caught him attempting to sell Burmese Pythons on Craigslist, according to the New York State Department of Environmental.
In July, Arthur Davidson, who resides within the eastern border of the West Islip School District, negotiated the sale of 23 young pythons for $2,400 to a DEC officer posing as a buyer, the DEC said.
A subsequent investigation following the sale led to the discovery of a 14-foot-long, 100-pound breeder female Burmese Python and an additional five juvenile pythons in a bag in Davidson's car.
The snakes were seized and donated to permitted educational and research institutions, the DEC said.
Davidson was charged with selling wild animals as pets, a misdemeanor, and was fined $5,000.
Though they are popular as pets, a permit from the DEC is required to posess Burmese Pythons in New York State. The species can grow to more than 22 feet long in the wild.
