Dusty hog-nosed snakes can no longer be kept as pets

This photo shows the dusty hog-nosed snake, which is found in sand prairies in the Sikeston area. The Missouri Department of Conservation recently made it illegal for anyone to keep the snakes as pets. Submitted photo

SIKESTON --A recently amended law makes it illegal for Missourians to keep an energetic -- yet harmless -- snake mostly found in sand prairies in Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi counties.

The targeted snake whose population is at risk of being harmed is the dusty hog-nosed snake.

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