Business owner asks to sell snakes

MARENGO — A Marengo business owner asked the city council last week to amend its ordinances so he can sell snakes.

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Dylan Pritchard, owner of Corn Fed Frags at 594 Eastern Ave., wants to keep ball pythons and boas in the shop. That’s not allowed by city code.

City Administrator Karla Marck asked Pritchard to clarify that he’s asking the city to allow the sale of snakes, not the ownership of snakes, inside the city limits.

Pritchard said he’d like to see both eventually, but for now he’d like the city to amend its laws so he can keep the snakes to sell. Pritchard sells to customers who live outside the city and sells via the internet, he said.

Ball pythons grow to about six feet, Pritchard said. They aren’t the 20-foot snake people see in the movies. “I don’t see a need for selling those,” he said.

If the snakes escape, they can’t survive in Iowa because of the temperature fluctuations, Pritchard said, so there’s no danger of the snakes becoming invasive.

“We live in the perfect state to house these reptiles,” Pritchard said.

The snakes Pritchard is asking permission to sell to are too small to be a threat to pets, he said. They are weak and can be easily removed if they wrap themselves around a person’s arm.

The snakes won’t hang from a tree and drop down on people as they walk by, as depicted in movies, said Pritchard. They stay curled up most of the time, he said.

Pritchard is required by the State of Iowa to house the snakes a certain way, and he must have permits to keep them. His facility has to be inspected by the State and by a veterinarian, he said.

Bright Eyes and Bushy Tails in Iowa City checks his shop, Pritchard said. If the vet doesn’t sign off on his facility, the State won’t allow him to keep the reptiles.

Councilman John Hinshaw said he’s OK with Pritchard’s request even though he hates snakes.

“I’m comfortable that you’re going to take care of it right,” said Marengo Mayor Adam Rabe. He’s not so sure about the consumer.

Pritchard sells coral, freshwater and saltwater fish and reptiles at his shop. He can house four snakes right now but hopes to keep 12 in stock if the city amends its code.

Police Chief Ben Gray asked Pritchard if he’d be willing to train police how to handle the snakes if they get out.

“We’d be more than happy to help with training,” said Pritchard, but if the snakes get out, they probably won’t be seen. They would hide, he said.

The snakes wouldn’t be out looking for food, said Pritchard. His snakes eat only once every other week, and he has to kill the rats for them.

The council took no action on the request Wednesday. “I think I would like to have the other two council members here,” Councilman Bill Kreis said.

Council members Jenni Olson and Travis Schlabach were absent.

Kreis also said he wanted to have more time to think about the request.