Wow...anyone hear about this?

Part of the article :

"The incident leading to Dres’ death began About 12:45 a.m., when an acquaintance of Dres called 911 to report that Dres’ 13-foot-long boa constrictor had wrapped around his neck inside its cage in the 10000 block of Lincoln Road."

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...EWS01/61216003

Has anyone heard of recorded deaths by snakes in the Boa Constrictor genus?

No, but it IS 13 feet long... that's big enough that you'd need someone else there. Same as if it was a burm or retic.

EDIT: And the worst part of this (besides the death :P) is what is mentioned in the article:

Quote:

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State lawmakers are considering exotic-pet regulations. In Kentucky, some officials in Campbell County are considering an exotic-pets ban.

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All because of one death?

I wonder if they cuffed the boa to take it away...

hmmm... makes me wonder if alcohol was involved... 12:45am seems like a weird time to be sticking your head into your snakes enclosure. he did have a buddy with him... who called 911 so he wasn't alone.

you know... there are so many people out there who don't research and do the best for their snakes and other exotics... and their mistakes do make 'news' unfortunately :(

Where do you see boa in the article?
From the sound of it, this was most likely a burm or retic.
I wonder if they edited the story?

Quote:

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Pet python kills owner
BY JANICE MORSE | JMORSE@ENQUIRER.COM
Ted Dres, 48, died Saturday after his pet snake wrapped itself around his neck, strangling him.

Dres died at Bethesda North Hospital about 1:45 a.m., despite Loveland-Symmes medics’ efforts to save him.

Officials said the death highlights the risk that comes with owning exotic pets.


In Butler County, a man was bitten by a pet monkey last month and a woman was bitten by her pet python in August.

State lawmakers are considering exotic-pet regulations. In Kentucky, some officials in Campbell County are considering an exotic-pets ban.

“People who keep these type of animals as pets should know exactly what they’re doing and what they’re capable of,” said Andy Mahlman, spokesman for the Cincinnati Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Mahlman said he has seen photographs of reptile owners posing with snakes coiled around their necks. “They don’t realize they could be a few seconds away from death,” he said.

“This is not just a joke or a plaything,” Mahlman said. “You’re dealing with a creature that is capable of killing.”

Dres’ snake is being kept at the society’s shelter until further directions from police or Dres’ family, Mahlman said. It could end up with one of several reptile-rescue groups that work with the society.

The incident leading to Dres’ death began About 12:45 a.m., when an acquaintance of Dres called 911 to report that Dres’ 13-foot-long python had wrapped around his neck inside its cage in the 10000 block of Lincoln Road.

“The snake continued to strangle the victim until deputies arrived,” the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said. in a news release

When deputies arrived, They found Dres face-down in the cage with the snake still around his neck. Deputies removed the snake from Dres, and Loveland-Symmes medics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. With deputies’ help, members of an animal-protection group used a blanket and rope to “bag” the reptile.

He said the snake likely would end up with one of several reptile-rescue groups that work with the society.

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According to THIS news story, it was a 13 foot ball python that killed him:

http://www.local12.com/news/local/st...9-f23959baa5b1

13 ft eh? ammmmazing.

Gotta love it.:mad:


The uninformed report the news and the out of touch propose a law because of it.

I just looked from my little 20 inch BP to the words "13 foot long Ball Python"... nice research there, journalists. :rolleyes:

Moved to General Herp forum.

I don't mean to brag, but my Ball Python is 23 feet. :) ... and still growing. HA!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...121700489.html


13-Foot Pet Boa Kills Owner in Ohio

The Associated Press
Sunday, December 17, 2006; 5:02 PM



CINCINNATI -- A 13-foot boa constrictor wrapped itself around its owner's neck and killed the man in his home, authorities said.

An acquaintance found Ted Dres, 48, inside the snake's cage Saturday and called police, the Hamilton County Sheriff's office said.

The snake was still strangling Dres when deputies arrived, and the officers had to work with members of an animal protection group to remove the reptile, the sheriff's office said.

Dres' snake will be kept at an animal shelter awaiting instructions from police or Dres' family, said Andy Mahlman, spokesman for the Cincinnati Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"People who keep these type of animals as pets should know exactly what they're doing and what they're capable of," Mahlman said.

He said he has seen photographs of reptile owners posing with snakes coiled around their necks.

"They don't realize they could be a few seconds away from death," he said.

I wish they would have posted a picture of it.... I also would like to know why did the snake kill the guy.... Did the guy have the snake wrapped around his neck, did he smell like food. I hope in the end that it was the keepers fault and not the snakes.

See this is what i try to teach people when we do a demostartion.NOT TO WRAP A BIG SNAKE AROUND YOUR NECK EVER!! Not for nothing,but this is actually a first for me,as far as a Red Tail Boa killing anyone?Sounds like that guy really did do something wrong.Or he had no idea of what to do when big snakes attack.

My father actually called me up and told me "a 13 foot boa just killed a guy.... don't you have a boa?"

I said "...a 13 foot... BOA just killed a guy?"
Dad said "Yes... it's on the news."

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought boa's only got to be around 10 feet long? Maybe this snake was just an odd ball, maybe the people made it out to be bigger then it really is? Maybe it wasn't even a boa after all?

(This has already been posted here)

As to the length of the boa, I don't know about Columbians, but I am pretty sure the BCC locales (Peruvian, Surinam, etc.) can get that big.

Threads merged

Whoops sorry Jason, didn't see it.

Thanks Robin!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

According to THIS news story, it was a 13 foot ball python that killed him:

http://www.local12.com/news/local/st...9-f23959baa5b1

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I sent them an e-mail with some facts.

feel free to send them an e-mail as well :D
local12@wkrc.com

Sent them a email as well. :)

i heard of a guy in kentucky who was completely eatin by his retic when trying to give it the meds for mouth rot and hes owned snakes his whole life the snake was 18 foot and he went in to give it the meds by himself in the barn and he musta pissed the snake off some how when giving him the meds. the news reported he was a snake rancher who knew what he was doing and had a lisence to breed snakes of all kinds and that it was his fault that he got eaten and not the snakes fault

Heh.. they don't devote nearly as much media attention to injuries/deaths by "acceptable" animals such as dogs and horses.. this kind of thing just ticks me right off. :(

It's never the snake's fault. Even if the guy did everything properly. A snake will always be a snake no matter how tame he seems. It's humorous to see the various stories with the mis-information. 13 foot Ball Python New world record! Anyway, I guarentee a lot of owners of larger reptiles don't have a friend with them 100% of the time when handling their animals. This unlucky man just happened to be there when his snake was hungry or pissed off.

As far as bans go I don't agree with it just because I own reptiles. Maybe they should think about banning only certain kinds of reptiles. You don't see them banning all breeds of dogs just because of pitbull attacks. I don't know. There's always going to be a person out there that's going to make a mistake eventually.

bans won't stop anything. people who want big snakes will have big snakes. and when they get caught? *slap on the wrist* "don't do it again....or we'll have to up the fine to 10 dollars next time"

Oops.I am not to sure why i thought it was a Red Tail Boa,mabe i should read more often.In any case,well if you are going to own such a big snake,know what you are doing,and never take it out by yourself.I meen,dont get me wrong i do feel for the man,but it go's to show,that you never know.In any case,i am one of those people who will have someone else in the room before i go and play with my large snakes or monitors.Hey call me a little girl,but i really do not feel like being on the news like that poor gentleman,and have no desire to die in that manner.

wow...looks like those e-mails may have done some good:

http://www.local12.com/news/local/st...9-f23959baa5b1

Quote:

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Last Update: 12/18/2006 11:44:03 AM


A Camp Dennison man was killed overnight when he tried to show his pet to another person.

Ted Drees had owned his pet Python for a number of years. For some unknown reason the 13 foot snake turned on Drees.

It first bit him in the face and then choked him to death.

When officials arrived to deal with the snake, they had to use a taser to get it off of Drees.

The SPCA is currently holding the snake. It is in a cage, and they say they are not going near it.

When they asked the Drees what they wanted to do with it, they told the SPCA to keep it.

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*some* good...it was a boa constrictor wasn't it? not a Python.....at least they took "ball" out :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WTHbbqSnake

As far as bans go I don't agree with it just because I own reptiles. Maybe they should think about banning only certain kinds of reptiles. You don't see them banning all breeds of dogs just because of pitbull attacks. I don't know. There's always going to be a person out there that's going to make a mistake eventually.

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When it comes to the [paraphyletic] group of animals known as reptiles, many peope, for whatever reason, dont seem to realize that there are more than one species of snake, lizard, geckos, etc.

People realize that different dog breeds have different characteristics, why cant they see the differences between snake species? Do all snakes look the same to the fearful?

I think its because reptiles are so alien to most people its just not part of their folk biology. Especially up here in northern cities of the US.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mendel's Balls

When it comes to the [paraphyletic] group of animals known as reptiles, many peope, for whatever reason, dont seem to realize that there are more than one species of snake, lizard, geckos, etc.

People realize that different dog breeds have different characteristics, why cant they see the differences between snake species? Do all snakes look the same to the fearful?

I think its because reptiles are so alien to most people its just not part of their folk biology. Especially up here in northern cities of the US.

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Yes I agree. So we must teach them! My brother's not scared of snakes because he'd go catch wild snakes with me back in the day. Nor are my friends scared of snakes cause they learn about my snakes when they're at my house. Teaching is the key!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

*some* good...it was a boa constrictor wasn't it? not a Python.....at least they took "ball" out :D

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I have my doubts that it was even a Boa Constrictor. Many articles mention that it was a Python, and if it was a Boa this would be the first recorded fatality by Boa Constrictor in the U.S. that I've ever been able to find. (and I've been looking.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by repforlife

well if you are going to own such a big snake,know what you are doing,and never take it out by yourself.I meen,dont get me wrong i do feel for the man,but it go's to show,that you never know.In any case,i am one of those people who will have someone else in the room before i go and play with my large snakes or monitors.Hey call me a little girl,but i really do not feel like being on the news like that poor gentleman,and have no desire to die in that manner.

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Really good post. No one should ever be ashamed to need a second person around when handling their large snakes.. at least, a second person could help by spraying the snake with something, or manually peeling it off or at the very worst, killing it if they could not get it off.. it is a sad thing that this had to happen at all. On one hand, the Are wild animals that are unpredictable.. but on the other, the vast majority of herp keepers enjoy long, safe lifetimes of herping without serious injury.

Seems like it was a Burm after all. Article

Then again... Boa, Burm, Ball, Blindsnake... what's the difference? :rolleyes:

I think this is the article I heard about yesterday morning...I tried looking for an article but could only find a video = (

every story has been different. it's amazing how the words get twisted and then printed..

eh well.

Its the issues like this that keep so many people from keeping snakes. They thing of them as man killers and laws get passed preventing us from owning them right and left. If the snake was handled like they said she was, it was likely a case of mistaken identity or handling in blue.
Just my oppinion on it.

apparently my mother saw on the news that a ball python wrapped around someones neck and killed them.. anyone hear about that?

It wasn't a ball python. It was a large boa.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Worl...7/2842249.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16255785/
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/10556627/detail.html

I totaly agree with one of the articals. People with these types of pets should know exactly what they are getting

Quote:

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

It wasn't a ball python. It was a large boa.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Worl...7/2842249.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16255785/
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/10556627/detail.html

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It wasn't a Boa, it was a Burm. Article

i think i heard about that from my teacher, people shouldnt be SHOCKED, i mean this happens with dogs, probably more dog attacks than snakes

Ya, and I bet that you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning, attacked by a dog, falling off the roof, and being in 3 bad car accidents in one year than being killed by a non-venemous snake in a lifetime. But yet still when it does happen the media twists and turns it so everyone fears snakes just a little more than before. But really the only thing we can do is inform people about the real facts of snakes.

I wonder how big of a clutch you could get from that 13 foot ball python ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

I sent them an e-mail with some facts.

feel free to send them an e-mail as well :D
local12@wkrc.com

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That email must've made them change their tune... It now just says "python" not "ball python". Nice work!