NRP Seizes Venomous Snakes from Allegany Co. Home

Spitting Cobra

A raid of an Allegany County pet shop and home Thursday resulted in the seizure of three venomous snakes and a dozen other snakes.

Acting on a tip, Maryland Natural Resources Police officers armed with a search warrant removed a West African spitting cobra, a monocled cobra and a timber rattlesnake—each about three feet in length—from a home in Crespatown. At Daddieo’s Pet Store in Cumberland, officers found a dozen corn snakes.

The pet shop, at 12512 Naves Cross Road, and the home on Winchester Road are owned by John Paul Stosick III, 47, of Cresaptown.

Maryland law makes it illegal to possess cobras and rattlesnakes. The pet shop was selling the corn snakes without a permit and it had no certificates of origin for them.

The cases have been turned over to the Allegany County State’s Attorney for review. The snakes were taken to Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo.

monocle cobra

timber rattler