Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 29, 1993                   TAG: 9308290122
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DALE CITY                                LENGTH: Medium

POISONOUS PET SNAKES STILL IN VA.

Prince William County authorities had sought to destroy the snakes after Yeager was bitten by the black forest cobra Aug. 19. Prince William Hospital personnel scrambled to acquire 35 vials of anti-venom serum from as far away as Pittsburgh to counteract his bite.

Yeager was released from the hospital Thursday and is recuperating at home. He said he is taking antibiotics, has shortness of breath and feels weak.

The snakes are being stored inside a leased warehouse in Stafford County, where keeping poisonous snakes is legal, Yeager said. He said reports that the snakes were on their way to the Miami Serpentarium in Florida were mistaken.

The snakes were about to be destroyed when they were given to a Dale City man, who said he was taking them to the serpentarium. Yeager said that while he had agreed that the snakes should be taken to Florida, his fellow snake fancier had changed the plan.

Yeager, 34, said he still has 13 nonpoisonous snakes at his home in Haymarket, where he lives with his parents.

"We certainly would like to know where they are - only to alert people in the event something happens," said Stafford County Animal Warden Bill Tinsley.

Gary Sprifke, Prince William County's animal control warden, who had devised a plan to destroy the reptiles by freezing them to death, said he wants to make sure the snakes are out of his locality.

Assistant County Attorney Angela Lemmon said Yeager's attorney signed an order Friday stating "that they would not return the snakes to the county. And that has ended the case."

Yeager has been charged with possession of poisonous reptiles, a county misdemeanor that carries a maximum $500 fine.