Orange County neighbors concerned about possible exotic snakes on the loose after house fire

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Neighbors in one Orange County community are concerned about possible exotic snakes on the loose.

They said new snakes started slithering through their yards following a house fire. A neighbor said the person renting that home was breeding snakes in the garage, which is where firefighters said the flames started.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

“We’ve been noticing a different type of reptiles,” neighbor Chesly Cherizol, who lives near Wautoma Place, said. “It makes me feel uneasy.”

Holly Raymond’s lives next door to the home that is suspected to have started the problem.

Read: Who is on the missing submersible that was headed to the wreck of the Titanic?

“I have cats and they’re the first to let me know there’s a snake because they bring it to me,” she said.

She said the man who lived in the home that caught fire told her he was raising lizards and bold pythons that he was selling online.

Read: New homeowner moves in, finds snakes hidden in walls

A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission worker said records did not show a license to sell the creatures from the home.

The owner of the home said the renter left after the fire and only came back to get the chickens out back. He said the renter did tell him he had a python. An FWC official said depending on the circumstance, FWC may issue a citation or warning and try to help the person get a proper license.

This browser does not support the video element.

Read: Psssst: Here’s what you need to know about Florida’s 6 venomous snake species

Pygmy rattlesnake The pygmy rattlesnake, which is also known as the ground rattler, is found in every county in Florida. (Steve A. Johnson, U.S. Geological Survey)

Pygmy rattlesnake The pygmy rattlesnake, which is also known as the ground rattler, is found in every county in Florida. (Todd Pierson)

Cottonmouth Cottonmouth snakes are found in every Florida county. (Steve A. Johnson, University of Florida)

Cottonmouth Cottonmouth snakes are found in every Florida county. (Todd Pierson)

Juvenile cottonmouth This species loves water and can be found along stream banks, in swamps, on the margins of lakes and in tree-bordered marshes. (Steve A. Johnson, U.S. Geological Society)

Eastern diamondback The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest and most dangerous of the snakes that are native to Florida. (Steve A. Johnson, U.S. Geological Society)

Diamondback rattlesnake The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest and most dangerous of the snakes that are native to Florida. (Luke Smith)

Canebrake rattlesnake The canebrake snake can be distinguished by its grayish-brown or pinkish buff color, with dark bands across its body and a brown or black tail with a rattle at the end. (Steve A. Johnson, University of Florida)

Copperhead Florida is the southern boundary of where copperheads are found, which means it's rare to spot the snake in most of the state. (bobbyfingers/iNaturalist)

Copperhead Florida is the southern boundary of where copperheads are found, which means it's rare to spot the snake in most of the state. (Steve A. Johnson, University of Florida)

Coral snake FWC officials say the coral snake’s venom is the most potent of any snake in North America. (Todd Pierson)

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.