Norman lifts ban on certain snakes

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) – The Norman City Council has unanimously adopted an updated version of the ordinance governing animal welfare issues, removing the ban on anacondas, boas and pythons.

The Norman Transcript (http://bit.ly/1LRb4uf ) reports that residents had protested an exotic animal ban that included the reptiles, which they already owned and wanted to keep legally.

City Council member Robert Castleberry proposed an amendment to permit the three types of snakes, which will be protected by animal welfare laws within the city.

Three-year licenses will be available to those with rabies vaccines with the same time frame.

Mayor Cindy Rosenthal says the city could consider whether to permit breeding snakes within city limits in the future. Castleberry says he has no desire to address that issue.