A Harrison Ferry woman has been fined after she attempted to sell a live rattlesnake to an undercover wildlife officer.
The woman, Lynn A. Barr, 54, entered a plea before General Sessions Judge Bill Locke to the charge of illegal transportation of wildlife and was assessed a $50 plus court costs fine.
Her fine comes after officials with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency found out Barr was offering a rattlesnake for sale. It is illegal to sell such wildlife in Tennessee.
After hearing of the offer, a wildlife officer made contact with Barr and arranged a meeting. However, prior to that time, Barr reportedly made a call to the officer’s number and left a message regarding the deal. Of note was that the answering machine on which she left the message had him identified as a TWRA officer.
Barr ended up meeting with the officer near a store in Rock Island later that day. She had with her a timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). After he verified the snake was with her, other officers who were waiting nearby moved in and took possession of the venomous creature. She was cited on the scene for illegally possessing the snake and transporting it across the county.