Sad News

As a burm owner and breeder let me start by saying thank you to everyone here who understands the fault lies with the owner and not the snake. Needless to say our phones have been ringing off the hook and the most important point I try and make to someone is- IF THE SNAKE HAD ACCESS TO THE CHILD- THE CHILD HAD ACCESS TO THE SNAKE. Clearly irresponsible owners.

I am sorry this child was killed and my heart goes out to her.

However if the snake was not housed properly then I have no sympathy for the parents. I have listened to the broadcast over the news from central Florida and they stated the snake was put into a bag and placed into a glass aquarium. Where was the aquarium? Was that room locked? Was the top placed on and locked? What size was the aquarium? How was the bag secured? These are answers we may never get. An 8 foot burm is very strong-it can work itself out of a tied bag and it can push the top off an aquarium.
I have burms, I also have children. If one of my burms were to get out and harm one of my children I would be responsible. I can not find it in my heart to feel sorry for these parents, in fact, (and I am sorry if I offend anyone) they should be charged with involuntary manslaughter if it is discovered they were not keeping and caging the snake properly.
No one deserves to lose a child but what were they thinking not keeping the enclosure locked and the room the snake was kept in locked?
Like I said I have children but from day one our enclosures have been locked, the room locked, and keys inaccessible to them.

I completely agree with you that the fault is firmly at the feet of this snake's owners. Who in the world keeps a snake in a bag like that, in an enclosure the animal was clearly able to get out of repeatedly? In an unsecured room where the snake obviously either had access to the child or the child had acess to the snake? Who in the world isn't supervising a toddler at 10 a.m. in the morning when any experienced parent knows it's pretty darn rare for that age group to be sleeping safe in their rooms? Idiots that's who!

Toddlers tend to get up early, are incredibly busy and curious at that age and simply can get into everything not locked or nailed down. The more I'm reading about the facts of this incident the more I'm just sick at what was allowed to happen to this child by parents that, by any measurement of good sense, did not take the steps appropriate to protect their child. Steps I might add that do NOT require you to be a rocket scientist for heaven's seaks - just to have a bit of good sense and a solid knowledge of the species of snake you are keeping.

Its sad that a child lost their life but it is clearly the fault of the snake owner. I do not have kids but I take more precautions for the safety of my cats then they did for their child, My snakes are kept in secure cages on the other side of a door. I firmly believe with larger snakes that a failsafe such as being in another room should be in place in case of cage failure. I even put mesh over the vent to ensure nothing could squeeze through there and enter the rest of the house.
Even with the two 4ft RTBs that arrived with mites that had to be quarantined in my room with another cat who lives in there, I zip-tied the sliding lid shut and then duct taped another heavy mesh lid over it, is more precaution than it sounds like was made for the child. It may take me forever to get the cage open but at least I know they are not going anywhere. I dislike having them in there even with that security so as soon as the mites are gone they will be moved.
I don't plan on ever having children, so my burm will not ever pose a threat to my children, but even if a child came to visit they would not be allowed to be in the animals rooms unsupervised for their safety and the safety of the animals. I had just adopted a dog the week before my friend's(and roommate at the time) 17 year old brother came to visit for a week and since I didn't know the dog very well yet or her reactions. He was only allowed near her when we were around, not that he couldn't have managed a 43pound dog, she was abused in the past and I just didn't want him getting hurt.
It is just so irritating because both the child and the snake were innocent and now the child is dead and the snake is being blamed.

http://www1.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/MI124859

pretty sad story :mad:

My prayers go out to the family. However I do see grave neglegence on the owners part knowing they had a child in the home, I think I forsee some type of manslaughter charge.

[QUOTE=kazboots;1091531]dog, she was abused in the past and I just didn't want him getting hurt.
It is just so irritating because both the child and the snake were innocent and now the child is dead and the snake is being blamed.[/QUOTE]


The snake is being blamed? Read the comments section on any website that is running the story...WE as snake keepers are being blamed. We are being blamed for having a hobby, an interest, a passion...by people who have no idea what they're talking about. I am saddened by the ignorance of these irresposible snake owners, and even more by the overall ignorance of those who do not understand our herp world.:(

This is the equivalent of keeping a loaded gun on the coffee table. All I have are BPs (and no children), but for the snakes' sakes, I make sure that they are in secure enclosures. So far I have not had any escapees.

The snake cannot be blamed here. It is a wild animal. And , as all wild animals (especially of that size), it can be dangerous if not properly maintained. As a matter of fact, when it comes to small children, almost any animal can be considered dangerous if not properly supervised.

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Originally Posted by pavlovk1025

The snake is being blamed? Read the comments section on any website that is running the story...WE as snake keepers are being blamed. We are being blamed for having a hobby, an interest, a passion...by people who have no idea what they're talking about. I am saddened by the ignorance of these irresposible snake owners, and even more by the overall ignorance of those who do not understand our herp world.:(

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The snake is being blamed, it is portrayed as bad when it was not at fault, if that snake IS found to have killed the child under most laws it will be euthanized. We have been forced to kill dogs at the shelter for much much less. Dogs that were provoked by their owners and under proper circumstances would have never hurt anyone.

Yes, snake keepers are blamed for having them in the first place, and in the long run it will damage the hobby, the responsible ones are not the ones who make the news and rarely do most Non-Herp people hear of the precautions most of us take. The journalists just are not interested in "New Hampshire couple raises 16 Burmese Pythons and 3 children safely"<made that up<

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/sto...7986040&page=1

oh god.....

How would the snake go all the way to the crib and get in? That sounds horribly suspicious to me. Snakes don't roam around in the open normally when they get loose, they creep along walls and find spots to hide.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

How would the snake go all the way to the crib and get in? That sounds horribly suspicious to me. Snakes don't roam around in the open normally when they get loose, they creep along walls and find spots to hide.

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too true. Something smells fishy.

Does anyone else think that snake looked pretty thin for its size? I wonder how much and how often he fed it?

This story crossed the ocean, today at the petstore, when I got some stuff for my new leopard gecko!!, a guy insulted me to keep "childkillers", I did not know what the heck he was trying to tell me, except that he wanted to get into trouble, until now.

Well He we go...Burmese python gets out and kills a child in Florida!

http://www.nj.com/parenting/eric_ruh...ills_baby.html

Here is the link to another story covering it

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...rl-aged-2.html

Hi,

Theres a discussion thread on the story in the giant python section.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...threadid=95348


dr del

Yea its been posted all ready, its very tragic news. Just another irresponsible owner putting our hobby in jeopardy. Just more fuel for the fire.

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Theres a discussion thread on the story in the giant python section.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...threadid=95348


dr del

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Not really sure WHY this was moved to the giant python section when it is very clearly a story about the media rather then just a story about a giant python, but thank you to whoever moved it back here.

J'accuse Deb, :P

She was on the ball by the time I even thought about it. :rofl:


dr del

Hi all,
This is horrible to hear. Our community mourns for the snake and the child. I actually received a call today about this. Someone asked me to take in their Burm because they feared for their own childs safety.
No words can even be said to how I feel about this. I have always disliked the media in this country (as much as I dislike irresponsible pet owners). I do hope this hype dies down soon.
Rusty

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Originally Posted by dr del

J'accuse Deb, :P

She was on the ball by the time I even thought about it. :rofl:


dr del

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Guilty as charged ;) moved back and merged all in one ;)

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Originally Posted by JAMills

Well He we go...Burmese python gets out and kills a child in Florida!

http://www.nj.com/parenting/eric_ruh...ills_baby.html

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I commented on this story, asking if the author always wrote through ignorance and bigotry but it seems to have hit a filter and not posted.

Sometimes I hate people and the stupidity that they embody.

USARK press release following this tragic incident

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USARK Florida Python Press Release


For Immediate Release

For questions contact:

Andrew Wyatt
president@usark.org
www.usark.org

WILMINGTON, N.C. (July 2, 2009) - The United States Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of 2-year old Shaiunna Hare, who was killed in her home in Oxford, Florida Wednesday morning. Although authorities have not ruled out foul play, the Sumter County Sheriff's Office has initially reported the cause of death to be a 8-foot Burmese Python that was being kept in the home as a pet. The Sheriff’s Office further reported that the family did not have the necessary permits to handle or keep the snake, nor did they have the required caging or follow proper safety protocols as mandated under Florida State law.

Florida Fish & Wildlife and the Florida Reptile Community have established strict guidelines for ownership of this type of animal within the state. Burmese Pythons are a ‘Reptile of Concern’ and fall under a statute requiring an annual permit. There are strict guidelines for secure caging, education and experience requirements and inspections. USARK is a strong advocate of handling and safety protocols and industry best operating procedures. We would like to recognize Florida Fish & Wildlife, Sumter County Sheriffs Dept. and Lake- Sumter EMS for handling this emotionally delicate situation in such an even-handed and professional manner.

“Although we still have a lot of questions, this is a tragedy that could have been prevented and that is truly heart wrenching”, said USARK President Andrew Wyatt. “Ownership of any animal requires a great deal of responsibility, and reptiles are no different. USARK works with states across the nation to implement strong safeguards aimed at preventing situations like this from ever occurring”, added Wyatt. “Unfortunately animal related tragedies are not uncommon. Dozens are killed every year by dogs and horses. This case is unusual because there is a snake involved; but even more so because of the apparent gross negligence and disregard for law. There are strong laws in place in Florida. If the laws had been followed this death would never have occurred. Our heart goes out to the family as they deal with this tragedy and wrestle with the knowledge that they played a major role in it.”

The US Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) is a science and education-based advocate for the responsible private ownership of, and trade in reptiles. Widely recognized as setting the standard for safe responsible reptile keeping nationwide, USARK endorses caging standards, sound husbandry, escape prevention protocols, and an integrated approach to vital conservation issues. Its goal is to facilitate cooperation between government agencies, the scientific community, and the private sector in order to produce policy proposals that will effectively address important husbandry and conservation issues. The health of these animals, public safety, and maintaining ecological integrity are its primary concerns.

Currently USARK has state legislation pending in North Carolina that would require secure caging standards, safety & escape prevention protocols as well as penalties for negligence and violations.

Contributors: Andrew Wyatt (President USARK), Dennis Sargent (Fl. Reptile community) & Greg Graziani (Fl. Reptile community)

Note to Reptile Nation:

This Press release was sent to the Associated Press (AP) and various other media outlets.

The challenges we face at the federal and state level by those who would oppose responsible reptile ownership are merely one tragic event away from being enacted into law. Bad policy that could never stand on its own can easily be swept through legislatures and the U.S. Congress on a wave of emotion following the irresponsible actions of others.

USARK must stand firm on strong caging standards, sound husbandry, escape prevention protocols, and an integrated approach to vital conservation issues. In our view this is also the time to pursue a USARK Accreditation Program. Working with federal and state regulators to develop recognized and accepted standards and protocols insulates our community from having the terms of our existence dictated to us by those who would oppose reptile ownership altogether. It is also a way to establish USARK more firmly as the national standard bearer for the reptile-keeping community.

USARK has historically worked at the state level to implement strong laws for responsible ownership, thus a USARK Accreditation Program is merely internalizing those standards and working with states and federal regulators to raise the profile of our Program and its member participants.

We believe very strongly that this is the right approach, and the best way to respond to those who would use tragic events to demonize a responsible reptile-keeping community.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

I commented on this story, asking if the author always wrote through ignorance and bigotry but it seems to have hit a filter and not posted.

Sometimes I hate people and the stupidity that they embody.

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My mistake, it did post.

I still feel the same about people like him though.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

My mistake, it did post.

I still feel the same about people like him though.

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He replied with a simple yes. What a character.

Saw that. The guy is obviously uninformed.

Mike and I have already received concerned calls about snakes and safety around children. The crazy thing is this....

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The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Humane Society of the United States recently updated data on fatal dog bites for the period 1989 to 1994.

In the 6-year study published in the medical journal PEDIATRICS (Vol.97 No. 6, 891-5), Jeffrey J. Sacks, M.D. and associates reported the finding of 109 bite-related fatalities. They found that 57% of the deaths were in children under 10 years of age. 22% of the deaths involved an unrestrained dog OFF the owner's property. 18% of the deaths involved a restrained dog ON the owner's property, and 59% of the deaths involved an unrestrained dog ON the owner's property.

The researchers also found that 10% of the dog bite attacks involved sleeping infants.

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109 fatalities over only 6 years. 10% of them being sleeping infants. 57% of the victims were children under 10. 59% of dogs that killed people were on their own properties.

Yet not one person I've spoken to would even think to suggest that my owning a 75 lb Labrador Retriever who has free range of our home is a statistically dangerous pet to own. Why don't people get reality? All this fear surrounding snakes and yet Fido the mutt is in actuality a far great risk to your children on a daily basis.

***This study by the way was an update on a previous study covering the period from 1979 to 1996 in which more than 300 dog bite fatalities occurred. That paper can be found here.....

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/dogbreeds.pdf

I was informed about this very early before even waking up my phone was ringing off the hook from every family member asking if I own burmese pythons and if my children are ok. Im actually fed up with all this crap. I have no sympathy for the parents. When you become a parent you lose your right to sleep to 10am. I have a 5 year old and 2 year old and have not slept to 10 in 5 years. When the child gets up YOU get up. I see no danger in keeping large snakes with children. When you keep them properly like you should the danger in big pythons stops. You lock your snake room you lock there cages you keep them in cages not fish tanks. When you become a parent you protect that child at all costs and if you are keeping a potentially dangerous animal you need to make sure there is no possible way that child could ever end up being that animals dinner. This is nothing but a bunch of idiots ruining our hobby because they cant keep there snakes put up like they should. The story seems fishy to me I own a number of burms and Ive got to tell you when it comes to food mine dont miss a strike often usually it only takes one strike not multiple strikes. I wish people would just keep there animals like they should. Everytime this happens both my faimily and my wifes family give us hell for it. Well I cant help it that two morons let there snake kill there baby or killed there baby and blamed the snake (it would be very easy) but if I thought for a second that one of my snakes may possibly be able to kill one of my children I wouldnt own them!

does anyone know when the results of the autopsy will be released?

i agree with the parents being totally at fault. i think that the emphasis should be on the fact that they DID NOT have a proper enclosure, a lock, a locked room, OR a permit to have it. the parents own the responsibility of both the child and the animal, and they should be charged on both the child's death and abuse/mistreatment to the animal, in addition to charges they face for not having proper permit.

imo, this is open and shut. who with any common sense would say the snake, ergo all snake owners are at fault?

First I am very sad that a child has lost their life due to poor choices from adults.

But as I read the different stories posted on this thread they all seem to state the owner of the snake was the boyfriend, not the father of the child. So I don't understand why the mother of this child before even living with this guy didn't make sure the snake(s) were secured in the proper way. (And if she didn't know what the proper way was do research of her own to find out) Then, after it escaped the first time didn't remove the child from the home until it was secured properly.
Actually I guess it shouldn't surprise me since so many children are killed/hurt by their own parents all the time. But still, I hope both the mother and the boyfriend as owner of the snake are charged and put in jail for this. Because of their neglect an innocent child is dead.

As for the snake I hope it recovers from it's stab wounds and is placed with a responsible owner. One who will take care of it and protect it the proper way.

dont you love when people who dont own, like,or even see snakes act like they know more than you. today i was out and my father was like did you hear about that little girl. i said yes that is very sad and he said does that scare you since you have a kid on the way and i said no. my snakes cant kill a person ( all i have are balls) i added they dont get that big and he said bull they will get like 15 foot long, i just started laughing, and brought him to my home to show him our 3000 gram girls and explained that they dont get to much bigger than that. i just thought it was funny how quick he questioned my judgement considering he hates snakes and i have raised them for over 7 years.

that just seems to be the norm. the less someone knows, the more they are willing to tell you how wrong you are.

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Originally Posted by Ben Biscy

that just seems to be the norm. the less someone knows, the more they are willing to tell you how wrong you are.

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oh i know i have seen it all i have had people run from me screaming. i even had a woman walk up to my wife and tell her that she is sickening. i even had one guy act like he was going to hit me lol and we were not doing anything. but hey thats just how some people are.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Unless one of you was there then there is NO actual knowledge of how the snake was kept, what it was kept in, the condition of the parents (sober or what) or if waking up at 10 was the norm.

Maybe he worked nights. Maybe he left the cage open. Maybe someone else left the cage open. Maybe it was a poorly built cage. Maybe the kid opened it.

Jumping to conclusions is very easy. Jumping to conclusions is also a good way to be wrong.

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I agree it's wrong to judge without all the details, but I'll go back to part of the comment you're replying to - regardless of the family's schedule, why is a 2 year-old awake and "loose" without supervision? Forget the snake, why isn't anyone watching the kid? My niece is almost 2 years old, and if she's sleeping her bedroom door is securely closed... and when she wakes up, so does my sister or brother-in-law. Just sayin'.

No matter what the details are, my heart goes out to the little girl's family... what a horrible tragedy. :(

Snakes, guns, whatever, etc...

...it had better be locked up like fort knox, or its the parents fault and they should be charged with a crime.

BrandonsBalls

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Originally Posted by dmaricle

dont you love when people who dont own, like,or even see snakes act like they know more than you. today i was out and my father was like did you hear about that little girl. i said yes that is very sad and he said does that scare you since you have a kid on the way and i said no. my snakes cant kill a person ( all i have are balls) i added they dont get that big and he said bull they will get like 15 foot long, i just started laughing, and brought him to my home to show him our 3000 gram girls and explained that they dont get to much bigger than that. i just thought it was funny how quick he questioned my judgement considering he hates snakes and i have raised them for over 7 years.

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I think its easy to under estimate a 3000/4000G ball, which I think could kill and infant or toddler, given the circumstances that would allow for such a tragedy.

My parents are so scared of snakes that they know I have ONE ball python and it freaks them out. I don't think I could ever tell them I have several, let alone the boa constrictors, especially with us having our third baby here any day now. I have tried to educate them on snakes but they wont listen, but then again they deal with rattle snakes out on their property all the time and I am sure that has a lot to do with it.

According to one news report, they guy said it "got in the baby's crib" so if the baby was in the crib, the baby wasn't wandering around. But also... in antoher news report he said he found the child missing, and went looking for her and found her and the snake.
If the snake got loose... went however far it was to the crib, and climbed into the crib to kill the child.. then the parents were not supposed to be supervising the child, they were all still sleeping in bed(10 am or not, lots of people sleep in later than those of us that have to get up at 7am etc).

I tend to think that something is fishy, since I can't imagine even a hungry burm going TO a crib to climb in and attempt to kill/eat a 2 year old. Perhaps the father misspoke in the heat of the moment, saying one thing, and meaning another, after all, his daughter was dead.

I'm still astounded at the double standard of the general public. "See? You shouldn't be allowed to keep those snakes!" and I point out that dogs have killed as many people in a single year, so are they going to insist no one should own dogs... and they just shake their heads in disgust, as if *I* am missing some point. Am I missing a LEGITIMATE point? I don't think so. I think it's just the ingrained distrust of reptiles, creating that double standard.

At least the celebrity deaths have overshadowed this incident, perhaps it will fade before it gets too much attention.

I think it is a case of neglect and the owners of the snake/parents of the child should be punished by law. My sympathy goes out to them for their child being killed, but THE SNAKE GOT OUT OF ITS ENCLOSURE BEFORE. It was stated in the article that the snake had even gotten out earlier that morning.
Jumping to conclusions is easy to do in this case. GOD forbid this is a cover up of some kind of child abuse. I see neglect as a form of abuse!
I see permits and regulations(lockable enclosures, etc) in the future. At least for anything over six feet(IMO). Hopefully this doesn't effect the keeping of harmless reptiles including ball pythons.

I have been told my snake's are as deadly as a pitbull( hahaha). Not many corn's and small male ball's have caused much damage. We keep out pixie frog under lock and key though ( 4 year old's fingers can be tasty:) and will be building a wall with a lock and double locks on the enclosure for my savannah monitor just in case.BTW When my kids were babies, I kept the doors shut so that no animals( even cats) can get in. I would be forsure closing the door with a huge snake in the house.

I just can't stand it anymore; I have to reply with having only read 1/2 of this thread. Let me step up to the soap box for a minute.

Ever since I heard about this story, I've just been sick with anger and disgust!

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Originally Posted by MarkS

I really hate to bring this up, but I really hope the authorities do an autopsy on the child. It wouldn't be the first time a child died of abuse or neglect and the guilty parents tried to frame it on one of their pets.

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This was my first reaction, too. As Wilomn said, that Burm was only 8.5 feet long. Unless it wanted warmth and somehow managed to be a bit of a "rough snuggler" (sarcasm in voice), this doesn't make any sense! And the keeper said in his 911 call that the snake is 12 feet long. How can he not know his own snake???? Anyway...

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Originally Posted by MarkS

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...kfs5gD995TLSO0

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In that link, the article says this, "Burmese pythons are not native to Florida, but they easily survive in the state and can reach a length of 26 feet and weigh more than 200 pounds." WHAT???!!! Thanks a lot you irresponsible media folk for making the public more freaked out about snakes!

The bad apple (the owner of the FL Burm) ruins it for all of us.

I feel horrible for the toddler who had her life shortened. I feel sad for the mom (though I have my concerns there, too). I have nothing but anger and contempt for the owner of that burm - insufficient and/or insecure tank, no permit, no supervision, and no attempt to correct the mistake they already knew about - the snake had already escaped before.

Regardless of what happens with the cause of death, these people should be charged with neglect and reckless endangerment!! Even with all the apparent holes in this case, my concern is that when and if the snake is ever cleared, there will be no big media blitz to correct the original misinformation. All the public will remember is how horrible snakes are!!

I am so angry about this!! It undoes some of the much needed progress the reptile community has made with the "uninformed and afraid."

I'll step down now.

Hey, going along with the results of this incident. Did everyone see this? http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...threadid=96402

Yup I did bobsean...I was the first to comment it....
Damn people ruining it for the good people of the reptile community.
I mean I wouldn't even think of putting a two year old in the same house of a snake over 6 feet long, that's just common sense.
Also in the news story, the owner said "The stupid snake got out in the middle of the night and killed my girlfriend's daughter" now he is referring to it as stupid?I hope this guy goes to jail for indirectly killing a toddler with his own stupidity!
Its these stupid irresponsible owners that make US all look like a bunch of weird people who just like snakes because they eat rats or rabbits, get to massive lengths and girths(although the majority of captive snakes don't) and pose a serious threat to the owner and the family.
This really gots to stop right now, or we lose this hobby for good.

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Originally Posted by guambomb832

Damn people ruining it for the good people of the reptile community.
I mean I wouldn't even think of putting a two year old in the same house of a snake over 6 feet long, that's just common sense.

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Now why in the heck would you even say something like that? Have you ever even kept a snake longer then 6 feet? Large snakes are no more dangerous then large dogs, yet millions of households keep them in the same house along with their young children. Just a few COMMON SENSE rules and they are just as safe to keep as anything else that could be potentially harmful if mishandled or misused. For crying out loud people, these are not some demons from the nether regions out hunting for toddlers to eat, they're just animals. If you're going to make statements out of ignorance, please do everyone a favor and DON'T HELP....

I would tend to agree with some of the other users on this post, that there is a lot of details that are missing here, it all seems a bit fishy.

One thing to remember is that we have no guarantee that the newspeople are reporting this completely accurately, its very easy to make a small mistake over the details of a 911 call, especially if you are getting it second hand for any reason.

Second, I'm not a burm expert, but I didn't think an 8-9 foot snake would consider eating a toddler sized object, especially one that didn't smell like normal food, so if it did, what triggered the feeding response? Was the snake just so hungry that it didn't care any more? In that case why was the poor animal being starved, and the owner can add animal neglect to his list of charges.

Third and this has been said a dozen times, how did the snake and the kid come into contact?

Fourth what lead up to the attack (we'll probably never find out), was this a case of a child walking in on a starved snake, did the toddler accidentally stress the snake, causing a defensive bite that devolved into a more serious feeding attempt when the child struggled, was this just a really badly treated (and resultantly aggressive) snake?

I am sincerely sorry for the mother and her child, but hope that cooler heads prevail in reacting to the incident.

To MarkS,
I am sorry
it was a "heat of the moment" message
I meant if it escaped before and didn't fix the cage and just put it in a bag in the cage he is totally at fault here.
I know snakes over 6 feet wouldn't want to hurt anyone.
I just don't like how they are known to be man-eaters.
I know what I said was way out of line( I typed it pretty late last night, I was tired)
but I want to help stop this python ban that Bill Nelson is proposing.

This story was terrible, idiotic people should not be allowed to own such large snakes, or snakes at all for that matter.

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Originally Posted by guambomb832

To MarkS,
I am sorry
it was a "heat of the moment" message
I meant if it escaped before and didn't fix the cage and just put it in a bag in the cage he is totally at fault here.
I know snakes over 6 feet wouldn't want to hurt anyone.
I just don't like how they are known to be man-eaters.
I know what I said was way out of line( I typed it pretty late last night, I was tired)
but I want to help stop this python ban that Bill Nelson is proposing.

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I'm sorry to snap at you like that Christian, it's not just you. It seems that there have been a number of people here and on other forums who have been making statements to the effect that people with small children shouldn't be keeping giant constrictors and I just disagree with that so much, it just helps spread the fear and ignorance. There are so many other things in the average household that can be just as or more dangerous then Burmese pythons. Anything from household cleaners to insecticides to medicines to firearms or even just plain old bathtubs and stairs. Don't even get me started on electrical outlets. But the point is, as long as you always practice 'safety first' you really shouldn't have a problem.

Keeping large constrictors is not for everybody, but it's really not rocket science either, and if you want to try it it's not that difficult to stay safe by following a few basic rules.