Latest news with #GriffinMcKeown
NBC News
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Venomous snake found in bananas at New Hampshire grocery store
A bunch of bananas at a New Hampshire grocery store hid a slithering stowaway last week, a scaly story that might get adapted for the big screen as "Snakes on a Plantain." Employees at a Market Basket in Manchester got an unexpected surprise on Saturday when they discovered a hissing hitchhiker nestled among their shipment of bananas, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division. NH Fish and Game conservation officer Griffin McKeown told ABC News affiliate WMUR that he spoke to an employee at the grocery store who made the unusual discovery. 'Luckily for us, he seemed to be pretty familiar with snakes,' McKeown said. The unwelcome traveler was a two-foot-long Ornate Cat-eyed Snake, a mildly venomous species native to Ecuador, according to NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division. McKeown noted to WMUR that New Hampshire law prohibits the possession of any venomous snake aside from the hog-nosed snake. 'We've had a few calls about pet surrenders of ball pythons and stuff like that, but never, never a venomous snake,' McKeown said to WMUR. 'That's definitely a first for me.' NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division said that the snake was unharmed and has since been rehomed with Rainforest Reptile Shows Inc., an educational organization specializing in exotic animal care. Rainforest Reptile Shows Inc. on Facebook thanked officials "for ensuring a smooth and quick transition for our newest animal resident!" "The Cat-eyed Snake that arrived today is a specialized species from Panama, Ecuador, and Colombia that primarily feeds on amphibians and lizards," the company said. "As a nocturnal species, its care requires extra expertise and attention."
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Unwanted hitchhiker' found in grocery store's banana shipment 'a first' for conservation agency
A slithery surprise discovered in a banana shipment sent a scare through a southern New Hampshire grocery store. A conservation officer with the state New Hampshire Fish and Game Department responded Saturday to a report of an "unwanted hitchhiker" at the Market Basket in Manchester, according to WMUR and a statement posted to Facebook. Hawaii Store Employees Discover 2-Foot Snake In Christmas Tree Shipping Container The slithering stowaway was determined to be an ornate cat-eyed snake, a mildly venomous reptile native to Ecuador, which is one of the largest exporters of bananas to the U.S. Conservation officer Griffin McKeown told WMUR that in responding to the incident, he spoke with an employee who "seemed to be pretty familiar with snakes." The call was "a first" for McKeown, he continued. "We've had a few calls about pet surrenders of ball pythons and stuff like that, but never, never [a] venomous snake." Read On The Fox News App Arizona Firefighters Remove Boa Constrictor From Pickup Truck: 'Unusual Call' McKeown also noted that possession of any venomous snake, aside from the hog-nosed snake, is illegal in New Hampshire. After it was determined the snake was unharmed, it was re-homed to northern Massachusetts-based Rainforest Reptile Shows Inc. for proper care. Market Basket and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for article source: 'Unwanted hitchhiker' found in grocery store's banana shipment 'a first' for conservation agency
Fox News
16-02-2025
- General
- Fox News
'Unwanted hitchhiker' found in grocery store's banana shipment 'a first' for conservation agency
A slithery surprise discovered in a banana shipment sent a scare through a southern New Hampshire grocery store. A conservation officer with the state New Hampshire Fish and Game Department responded Saturday to a report of an "unwanted hitchhiker" at the Market Basket in Manchester, according to WMUR and a statement posted to Facebook. The slithering stowaway was determined to be an ornate cat-eyed snake, a mildly venomous reptile native to Ecuador, which is one of the largest exporters of bananas to the U.S. Conservation officer Griffin McKeown told WMUR that in responding to the incident, he spoke with an employee who "seemed to be pretty familiar with snakes." The call was "a first" for McKeown, he continued. "We've had a few calls about pet surrenders of ball pythons and stuff like that, but never, never [a] venomous snake." McKeown also noted that possession of any venomous snake, aside from the hog-nosed snake, is illegal in New Hampshire. After it was determined the snake was unharmed, it was re-homed to northern Massachusetts-based Rainforest Reptile Shows Inc. for proper care. Market Basket and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
