Frankfort, KY (October 4, 2004) - Phillip W. Hunter, Jr., 37, of Owensboro, Kentucky was charged September 28, 2004 with the illegally selling of native wildlife after Kentucky Wildlife and Boating Officers executed a search warrant at his home. The search warrant was executed to enforce regulations designed to prevent the commercial exploitation of native wildlife.

Kentucky Wildlife and Boating Officers Jeff Finn, David Kuhn, and Marcus Bowling found 15 live snakes of various species, one native box turtle, several native toads and some exotic geckos. The officers found evidence of multiple sales of native wildlife without the required Commercial Captive Wildlife Permit.

Also, officers uncovered evidence Hunter attempted in the past to sell snakes caught from the wild. It is illegal in Kentucky for anyone, including those with a Commercial Captive Wildlife Permit, to sell or attempt to sell any wildlife taken from the wild. Legal commercial wildlife sellers may only sell captive born wildlife.

Evidence also showed Hunter imported live wildlife from outside Kentucky without the proper transportation permits. It is illegal to transport any wildlife, native or exotic, into Kentucky without first obtaining a transportation permit from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). These permits must be issued before the shipment enters the state.

Anyone planning to collect or sell native wildlife should first check with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources at 1-800-858-1549 on how to do so legally,” said Colonel David Casey, director of law enforcement for the KDFWR. “Those bringing any live wildlife into Kentucky from out of state or receiving shipments of wildlife from out of state must contact the KDFWR for the proper permits to do so.”