Not good in Wisconsin
 

Found this story a few minutes ago. If you think we arent all under attack, just take a look. Click here: Wisconsin Warehouse Found Crawling With Rare Reptiles - AOLNation
Wis. Warehouse Found Crawling With Rare ReptilesUpdated: 11 hours 12 minutes ago
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Lisa Holewa
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AOL News MILWAUKEE (May 14) – Police, zoo experts and animal control workers together hauled hundreds of exotic animals from a local warehouse this week, confiscating rare crocodiles, boa constrictors, alligators and snapping turtles that may have been owned by a well-known reptile expert.

"We're just about to put this croc in a crate; you'll have to hold on," a zoo official at the site -- a two-story building on the city's south side -- told AOL News today when reached by cell phone.

After crating the crocodile, Racine Zoo President Jay Christie said the warehouse had been filled with dozens of huge boa constrictors, a snapping turtle that weighed more than 100 pounds and several alligators roaming freely about the first floor. There were also many more alligators, crocodiles, caymans and turtles found in small boxes and large steel troughs normally used to feed farm animals.

"But I didn't confirm any venomous snakes, which would have been a larger danger, and I can't say that any of the crocodilians are large enough to eat a human," Christie added, responding to concerns that the reptiles may have posed a danger to neighbors.

The story began unfolding Wednesday, when a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault brought officers to a nearby home, where they discovered and confiscated dozens of reptiles, including several 20-to-30-foot-long anacondas, police said.

They also shot and killed two large Tibetan mastiff dogs that officers said were threatening them before they discovered the exotic animals. A 50-year-old woman was arrested, but has not been charged, police spokeswoman Anne Shcwartz said.

The woman will be referred to the district attorney's office for possible charges of a violation involving endangered or threatened species and mistreating animals, Schwartz said.

A large section of the street, which also houses a tavern, locksmith and other businesses as well as residences, remained closed today as officials finished removing animals from the warehouse.

Hundreds of mice were found roaming the basement, according to a police arrest report released today, and the whole building smelled strongly of urine and feces.

The warehouse address is listed online as the site of the Cullen Vivarium Wildlife Conservancy, and its founder, Terry Cullen, is a noted crocodile expert who is well known in the reptile world.

Police have said they are interested in interviewing Cullen, but did not know where he is.

"He's always been a quiet guy, but what he does for these animals is just incredible. There's not a guy on the planet who has done more," said Brian Potter, co-owner of the North American Reptile Breeders Conference, where Cullen has appeared for recent shows.

"I can tell you this: You do not have a situation there of an animal hoarder, of a crazy guy who's just piling animals in a building. He's done good things," Potter told AOL News in a telephone interview. "I would bet my life these animals were being cared for the right way. That's the Terry I know."

Christie, of the Racine Zoo, said he was called in by Milwaukee authorities Thursday morning. He grabbed some crates, pillow cases, rubber boots and catch poles, and headed to the site with his zoo's reptile specialist and a Milwaukee County zoo expert.

At the warehouse, a municipal carpenter built large wooden crates to remove the larger alligators and crocodiles; firefighters later cut a large hole in the front of the building to remove the troughs and other equipment.

"The animals were well fed, but by the time we got in there, they sure weren't well cared for," Christie said, noting there were large amounts of animal feces at the site, with some reptiles living among their own waste.

The animals are being taken by Milwaukee Animal Control, Christie said, and once all have been removed, his task will turn to more specifically identifying some of the rarer species.

Scott Diehl, who has worked as the wildlife manager for the Wisconsin Humane Society's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for the past 26 years, told AOL News that Cullen is "a well-known herpetologist and reptile rehabilitator" who has consulted with the Humane Society on injured native turtles, frogs, toads and small, nonvenomous snakes.

Cullen has also helped the Humane Society find permanent homes for surrendered iguanas, geckos and other small pet reptiles, Diehl said.

Noted Potter: "He's well known for trying to work with the animals, for the good of the animals." But, Potter added, "in our industry, that makes you look like a great guy doing great work. But in the newspaper, you just look crazy and dangerous."
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This is full of #$%^... the guy is well known around here (I havent meet him, but I have hear a lot about him).. he take care of unwanted reptiles, rehabilitate them and find them new homes... There werent any anacondas in there.. the guy is a good fella, newspaper are make him look like the bad guy..

Actually I think the article says quite clearly that there is another side to the coin, and that the animals were being well cared for by a legitimate operation. It mentions at least twice that this is a reputable keeper.

My question is why, in that case, was there an issue at all, and why were animals confiscated? There doesn't seem to be any suggestion that anything illegal involving the animals was going on.

My point exactly. The only thing it said was that there was some living in their own feces but that too can be easily explained. I dont know about others but I certainly dont stand by every cage waiting to remove the poop the minute they do their business so ok there is poop in a cage that hadnt been changed immediately. This kind of stuff just makes me frustrated. The thing is we see this part but never see the final results often times. Just enough to smear a good name or to make reptile keepers look bad.

I think we have a lot left to learn about this case. My understanding is that now the warehouse has been condemned due to the amounts of animal waste on the floor, and Cullen is still missing.

I think we're going to have to sit tight to find out the real truth.

Looks as though someone had an "agenda" going after him like this. Maybe its to discredit him with future legislation on our horizon, who knows. All I can see is that maybe it pays to be an unknown anymore. Shame to see a "witch hunt" with this hobby.

Sadly... I have to agree with you. Makes me wonder if I really want to make a business out of this... or just take a few animals and hide in the hills. The more crap I read... the more Im thinking of the latter.

While there may be more info available, and certainly more forthcoming, as alluded to by another poster, from the original article and the confiscations, the only reference I saw to some sort of violation was:

I will make an assumption that they had clearly delineated grounds to "confiscate". But I do not know what they are from the currently available info, although the first thought would be permit requirements and limitations. I also see no evidence of anything nefarious by either side so far.

as I read it... you took that part out of context

My guess is that woman was associated with that home... and not the warehouse :shrug01:

It was the only context provided, and I did not change it. Its the only link that the article provides to any sort of animal violations. While her home had animals that were taken, something then linked to the warehouse, and I doubt it was just random. But again, I cited the only thing in the article that referenced animal violations. The article may be quite loose with the few facts as well, to include a quantity of "20-30" foot anacondas. But its all we got so far.