Sweetbriar Reptile Event Creates Mini Media Frenzy

This story was posted by Jennifer Sloat and written by Lon Cohen.

This past weekend, Sweetbriar Nature Center in Smithtown held a Reptile Amnesty Day where people with illegal lizards and amphibians could turn them in no questions asked. The day netted the agencies that took part in the event a cache of animals that might have otherwise ended up being released into the wild, as a man who was drinking his coffee one morning found out when four alligators floated by him in the Peconic River.

The event turned into a mini media frenzy with coverage coming from major news outlets like the The New York Post, CBS, Newsday and other local papers.

We asked Janine Bendicksen from Sweetbriar some questions about the day including where all those animals will end up.

How many alligators were turned in? 

Three 
About how many people showed up to turn in reptiles?

Only one person talked with the reporters, all the others (five) dropped their pets and ran off.

Any other types of reptiles?

One large turtle and a boa constrictor, an alligator snapping turtle and a small deformed turtle.

Where will the reptiles be kept? Where will they go if not kept at Sweetbriar?

They were all taken to Boston where they will go to zoos and universities.

Do people give a reason for turning in their reptiles?

Most said they were getting too big for their enclosures.

Would you consider the day a success?

Yes we would, three alligators is great. One of the alligators was four-feet-long!

This is the first time Suffolk County SPCA  New York Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offered reptile amnesty day in Suffolk county.The thought is that next time more people might show up with their illegal reptiles now that they no they will not be prosecuted.