A man who used Facebook to exchange a PlayStation for an illegal North American snake has been fined for his actions.
The 20-year-old man from Mount Eliza pleaded guilty at Frankston Magistrates' Court on September 17 to keeping a milk snake and was fined $500.
Victorian chief conservation regulator Kate Gavens said she was concerned when exotic species were found in Victoria because of "the enormous potential to threaten our native species and agriculture".
"Our investigators received information alerting them to the milk snake and launched an investigation," Ms Gavens said.
Milk snakes are an exotic species from North America and are illegal to keep in Victoria as they can spread potentially devastating diseases to wildlife.
"It's important people understand what animals you can and can't keep in Victoria. In Victoria, it is illegal to trade in controlled pest animals, including milk snakes," Ms Gavens said.
Illegally traded animals were often imported and kept in ways that were cruel to the animals, Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning said in a statement.
The maximum penalty for importing, keeping or selling a controlled pest animal in Victoria was $39,652.
Anyone with information about the illegal possession and trade of exotic species is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
