DEPARTMENT of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) wildlife officers and police last week seized an exotic albino corn snake from a Berwick house.

A Somerville woman, 33, is expected to be charged on summons over the wildlife offence.

Officers took the one-metre pale yellow and white snake and its enclosure from the house.

Fines of up to $24,000 apply for charges relating to keeping a controlled pest animal or snake.

Police alerted DSE officers after a raid on the house over drugs matters.

They also seized a quantity of cannabis plants.

DSE senior investigator Glenn Sharp said exotic reptiles posed a threat to Victoria’s environment.

“Corn snakes are native to North America.

“These snakes breed like rabbits, and they thrive in most conditions,” Mr Sharp said.

“Corn snakes could easily establish viable breeding populations in Victoria if they escaped or were intentionally released into the wild.

“They would then prey on Australia’s ground-dwelling marsupials and small birds, damaging these populations and providing direct competition to Australian reptiles.”

Mr Sharp said corn snakes were a popular pet in the United States, but were found all too often in Australia.

“In the past seven years we’ve seized about 70 corn snakes across Victoria, and we believe this is the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

Mr Sharp asked anyone with information about illegal possession or trading of exotic reptiles such as corn snakes to contact the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

All calls will be taken in the strictest confidence.