Business & Tech
Poisonous Spiders, Scorpions Found In Bathroom Of North Andover Petco
The critters were safely removed from the store by Massachusetts Environmental Police and turned over to an exotic animal refuge.
NORTH ANDOVER, MA -- Staff at a North Andover Petco store called police after finding containers marked "venomous" that contained four poisonous spiders and six scorpions in a restroom. Massachusetts Environemtal Police arrived at the store and are reviewing footage to figure out who left the containers in the bathroom.
The animals were turned over to an exotic animal refuge. Among the critters found in six containers were a Brazilian scorpion, five Asian forest scorpions and four sand spiders. While sand spiders rarely bite humans, there is no antivenom if they do.
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"You're jeopardizing the public," Joan Gallagher, of Rainforest Reptile Shows, told WCVB, which originally reported on the story. "You're endangering the life of this animal.
Possession of the animals is not illegal in Massachusetts. Animal experts recommend turning unwanted pets over to refuges or shelters that specialize in the care of those animals.
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Photo by Bullit Marquez/Associated Press
Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).
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