Booze with a Bite

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents seized 411 bottles of illegal hooch Thursday at Bayou Bob's Brazos River Rattlesnake Ranch in Palo Pinto County. But it wasn't your typical variety of moonshine: the bottles of vodka also contained 10-inch rattlesnakes. Bob Popplewell, the owner of Bayou Bob's, received widespread attention last year when Texas wildlife officials decided to tighten regulations for the collection of turtles. He is believed to be largest buyer of turtles in the state. He testified before Texas Parks and Wildlife commissioners that he shipped 12,000 turtles out of state in 2006 and another 30,000 in 2005. Popplewell said that most of the turtles are shipped to Asia where they are considered a delicacy. There was no evidence that Popplewell was shipping the snake-infused alcohol from his business but the investigation is ongoing. Source: Star-Telegram