Snake fanciers frequent visitors

[SHANEA]

http://tcnewsleader.com/news.htm#snake

By KIM RAPP
News Leader Production Manager

SANDERSON – Sanderson may not have much to offer some people but it does attract a lot of snake enthusiasts.

They have been coming here for many years, particularly two of them.

Brian Williams and John Wisser have been coming to the Sanderson area for 11 years to go looking at and collecting snakes.

They hail from Houston where Williams is a firefighter and Wisser is a professional snake breeder.

The two cover the big Bend area, including Sanderson, Comstock, Langtry and Marfa.

They spend money in all these places. They stay in
motels in Sanderson, eat here and buy gas and other needs.

People come from all over the world in search of snakes.

Williams doesn’t consider himself to be a snake “hunter” but a collector.

He thinks people are against snake hunters/collectors out of ignorance and fear.

Williams told the News Leader he has a “healthy fear of snakes.” He is aware of their danger but is not afraid of them.

Williams is the secretary for the West Texas Herpetological Society.

He said the new bill passed by the Texas Legislature this year is upsetting to him.

The new bill prevents collectors from photographing and or capturing these reptiles.

The purpose of the society is awareness and education, Williams said.

He urged everyone to contact their local representative in an attempt to get the bill changed.

Wisser stressed he is “not here to rape and pillage the land” but in search of snakes to take home and breed.

He said Sanderson holds a special place for him ever since his mentor brought him here 11 years ago. He has been here every year since.

He has plans to soon be bringing his five-year-old son Ryan as a “future hobbyist.”