WESH 2 News found that at least 230 people are licensed to own venomous snakes in Florida.  Matt Grant (@MattGrantWESH) has the story. 

WESH 2 News found that at least 230 people are licensed to own venomous snakes in Florida.  Matt Grant (@MattGrantWESH) has the story. 

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Updated: 9:39 PM EDT Sep 4, 2015

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WEBVTT WESH 2 INVESTIGATES MATT GRANT LOOKS INTO WHAT THESE SNAKES LIVE AND WHO TAKES CARE OF THEM.  Reporter: WHILE THIS SNAKE IS NOT VENOMOUS LIKE MOST SNAKES IN FLORIDA WE'VE BEEN DIGGING THROUGH YOU THIS NUMBERS AND FOUND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN FLORIDA THAT HAVE VENOMOUS SNAKES INSIDE THEIR HOMES.  MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE PETS THAT COULD EASILY KILL YOU.  ALICE'S GRANDSON HAS SEVERAL.  HE HAS ALWAYS LOVED SNAKES.  Reporter: LOCKED IN A ROOM INSIDE HER HOME ON SEVERAL VENOMOUS SNAKES INCLUDING A COBRA.  I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AS LONG AS THEY ARE BEHIND, YOU KNOW, LOCKED DOOR WHERE CHILDREN DON'T GO.  Reporter: WESH 2 INVESTIGATES FINDS HER GRANDSON IS ONE OF 230 PEOPLE IN FLORIDA LICENSED TO KEEP VENOMOUS SNAKES LIKE A COBRA.  AT LEAST 57 ARE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.  STATE-WIDE MORE THAN 280 PEOPLE ARE LICENSED TO OWN ANY KIND OF VENOMOUS SPECIES.  AT LEAST 66 LIVE IN OUR AREA.  KING COBRA IS ONE OF THE MOST VENOMOUS SNAKES IN THE WORLD.  Reporter: HE'S WITH THE CENTRAL FLORIDA ZOO AND SAYS THE CURRENT PERMITTING PROCESS TO OWN A VENOMOUS SNAKE IS STRINGENT BUT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH I THINK IT SHOULD BE STRICTER.  TO WORK WITH VENOMOUS ANIMALS YOU SHOULD HAVE TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE.  Reporter: FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE REQUIRES A YEAR.  NO LESS THAN A THOUSAND HOURSS AN THAT MUST BE BACKED UP BY TWO REFERENCES.  OFFICIALS SAY THEY ALSO CONDUCT RANDOM INSPECTIONS ONCE A YEAR.  MARK LIVES NEXT DOOR TO WATERLOO'S DEADLY SNAKES BUT SAYS HE IS NOT SCARED BECAUSE HE CARRIES A GUN.  CONCERNS ME BUT NOT VERY MUCH.  LIKE I SAID, I PACK.  SO I'M SAFE. [  LAUGHTER ] Reporter: RIGHT NOW FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE IS REVIEWING THEIR PROCEDURES FOR PERMITTING TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR

Hundreds of Florida residents licensed to own venomous snakes

WESH 2 News found that at least 230 people are licensed to own venomous snakes in Florida.  Matt Grant (@MattGrantWESH) has the story.