B.C.鈥檚 Conservation Officer Service says a man is facing charges under the Wildlife Act following the seizure of hundreds, if not thousands, of exotic animals from a rental home in Surrey Aug. 8.
Maple Ridge veterinarian Dr. Adrian Walton told the Now-Leader he was called to the home by Surrey鈥檚 bylaw department after someone saw a 鈥渂unch of reptiles out on a deck.鈥�
Walton said after arriving at the home, he quickly realized there was a lot more to the story.
鈥淲hile we were doing the investigation, you took one quick look in the window and you were seeing this entire room of deli cups full of bugs, basically. Mostly spiders, but you could see some scorpions,鈥� said Walton, who is head veterinarian at Dewdney Animal Hospital, which has experience caring for exotic creatures, albeit not this many.
Walton estimated there were thousands of creatures in the Surrey home.
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Because of the condition of the animals, Walton said B.C. Conservation Officer Service got a warrant that was executed around 11 p.m. that evening.
Many animals were in 鈥減oor condition,鈥� he said, adding that some containers housing them didn鈥檛 have air holes.
鈥淔rom the bugs perspective, most of the animals were tarantulas and scorpions and these are venomous. Under Surrey bylaws, they鈥檙e not legal, so Surrey can鈥檛 adopt them out. You鈥檙e stuck in a situation of what do you do with these animals? Many were not identifiable, because they were babies. Some animals in there that were highly venomous, that no group is going to adopt out due to liability issues, my understanding is that the decision were made that those animals were not adoptable so they were destroyed.鈥�
While the Maple Ridge clinic cared for many of the animals and insects, many have since been transported to the Victoria Bug Zoo. Others were taken to the Surrey Animal Resource Centre.
Walton said it was 鈥減retty obvious鈥� this was a wholesale situation and that the animals were either arriving or being prepared for shipment.
鈥淭his is a situation we deal with in the pet trade 鈥� the international and even national transport of animals. What we know from various studies is the mortality rate is approximately 70 per cent,鈥� he told the Now-Leader. 鈥淲e have serious concerns about the ethics of that. So to see such a large volume of animals, many of which were not in the best of condition, it鈥檚 very upsetting to someone who actually sees these animals as incredibly unique creatures. I鈥檓 supportive of the people, the local breeders, who raise these animals because they have a love鈥�. You shouldn鈥檛 be buying online, you shouldn鈥檛 be buying from pet stores, you should be finding local qualified breeders and getting your exotic pets that way. 鈥�
As passionate as he is, Walton laughed as he said walking into a home with thousands of spiders at 11 o鈥檆lock at night 鈥渋sn鈥檛 exactly my idea of fun.鈥�
鈥淚 just went to pick up a couple of turtles, and was hoping to be home for dinner,鈥� he chuckled. 鈥淎ll the weird stuff, somehow Dewdney gets involved.鈥�
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In an emailed statement, B.C.鈥檚 conservation service said a man who is known to them is facing 鈥渕ultiple charges鈥� under the Wildlife Act in connection to case.
The statement noted was in 鈥渦nlawful possession of live Schedule A wildlife, namely various turtle species鈥� and that a search warrant was executed. The statement adds that the City of Surrey seized hundreds of spiders, scorpions and centipedes, seeing as they were illegal to possess under the municipal bylaw.
The man鈥檚 name has not been released.
While officials wouldn鈥檛 pinpoint an exact address of the home, they told the Now-Leader it was in north-east Surrey.
鈥淚t is unlawful to possess live wildlife without a permit,鈥� the statement from the conservation service notes, 鈥渁nd hobbyists should check all federal, provincial and municipal regulations prior to purchasing or housing any reptile or amphibian species to ensure they are in compliance with all applicable legislation.鈥�
In a Facebook post, the Victoria Bug Zoo wrote that it plans to begin adopting out the vinegaroons in its care on Sept. 4, for a fee of $40.
鈥淲e will adopt out a maximum of two to each person - however, this species is solitary and each should be kept alone in its own enclosure,鈥� reads a post from Victoria Bug Zoo. 鈥淪ome may be pregnant, we respectfully ask that any vinegaroons that lay eggs be temporarily returned to the zoo so we can care for the babies.鈥�
鈥淭o everyone who has already expressed Interest in adopting one of our little friends here, thank you so much for your kindness, and thank you to Dewdney Animal Hospital Ltd. and Adrian for helping us get the word out!鈥�
An earlier Victoria Bug Zoo post noted they had about 15 vinegaroons in their care, which were all in 鈥渆xtremely rough shape when they arrived.鈥�
鈥淚t is incredibly sad when animals must pay the price for the poor decisions of humans,鈥� that post reads. 鈥淭here are, unfortunately, unscrupulous people in the exotic pet trade, and this is why it is important to know who you are supporting when you make a purchase. Research your provider, always choose captive bred where possible, and don鈥檛 buy from people who sell illegal or unhealthy animals.鈥�
In a Facebook video, a staff member at Victoria Bug Zoo explains vinegaroons are arachnids, 鈥渇airly closely related to spiders and scorpions.鈥�
