Nice little snake accident in my hometown...

Here is the story...

Don't get me wrong, I love my snakes and all, but I completely understand that I should not handle this kind of animal, besides the legal ramifications of keeping a venomous snake.

wow... bitten in the face... I would be interested in finding out how and why his face got close enough to the snake. I love hots and I may even get myself a copperhead one day, but I can't see myself ever lacking in being safe and respecting what the snake is capable of.

Well, they are illegal in Winnipeg, along with any constrictor that averages more than 8' (or some other ridiculous arbitrary measurement), so he'll have legal problems coming no doubt.

im pretty sure texas doesn't have any laws against hots or giants, and I've looked up the city codes where I live and it does not mention anything. some one can correct me if im wrong though...
I can't imagine getting bit in the face by a gaboon. going through extreme amounts of pain, hopefully recovering from it lying in the hospital bed thinking of how much legal mess I now have to go through. life would suck at that point

Hey at least his healthcare was free :)

Sorry, had to take that little dig at my southern neighbours!

lol, does that have some kind of limit, or was everything including the antivenom free? if so then that's ridiculous

I know this is off topic, but isn't "free" healthcare in Canada and other countries a misconception? I mean, sure, you don't get billed for doctor and hospital visits, but doesn't the funding for socialized healthcare come from taxes? The money doesn't just appear out of thin air to pay for it.

I don't really have an opinion on whether socialized or capitalist healthcare is better. I just think that when people look at socialized healthcare they often have the misconception that because you don't get a bill in the mail that it's "free"

wow that sucks for that guy! gaboon vipers are cool looking. atleast he knew alot about the snake. lucky dude I hope he is ok

I shouldn't have brought up the healthcare thing :)

To answer the questions, yes it's tax-funded single payer healthcare so he would have no bill (even for the anti-venom). Our cost per patient is actually much less than the US though, since our system is not-for-profit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by simplechamp

I know this is off topic, but isn't "free" healthcare in Canada and other countries a misconception? I mean, sure, you don't get billed for doctor and hospital visits, but doesn't the funding for socialized healthcare come from taxes? The money doesn't just appear out of thin air to pay for it.

I don't really have an opinion on whether socialized or capitalist healthcare is better. I just think that when people look at socialized healthcare they often have the misconception that because you don't get a bill in the mail that it's "free"

---

I agree... no matter what kind of healthcare... there is no such thing as free money... understanding that they pay taxes instead of individually being billed, I was referring to the antivenom, that's a pretty penny, especially for a gaboon. so my question was did he have to pay for the antivenom? or was that free?

Yup, it was free. It's the same as any other drug, really.

Whoever owns the snake must live in Winnipeg city limits if the guy won't say who's it is. I think owners should be responsible if they're going to keep hots- follow all the set laws for that area. And if you don't like them, move. Not to mention the fact that this situation shouldn't have happened at all. Why was the guys face anywhere near a gaboon viper? It's not a ball python that are tame and handleable. Owner's should be taking every precaution- especially when there are other people involved!

For as much as he seemed to know about the Gaboon Viper, it sure sounds a bit strange for him to put his face anywhere near it. I'm thinking maybe it was an accidental thing, but either way, the guy's an idiot. He should've been more careful and used common sense around it.

Even someone who knows NOTHING about a snake usually keeps their distance until someone knowledgeable proves otherwise. Hopefully the snake gets found though, poor thing can't be too happy out in the cold :(

At least they said that it's nothing to worry about, and they don't chase you down the street. Most news stories about something like that would be something more along the lines of "Run for your lives! Killer snake loose on the streets! It aims for the face!" While it isn't the best publicity for the the hobby, at least it was factual and not just playing up to people's fears of snakes to get more attention.

I've met the guy that was called from the hospital. He works at the Indian Reptile zoo in Peterborough, which is where I live. They have the medications on hand for the venomous species at the zoo but they had the anti-venom flown from Toronto.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by m00kfu

At least they said that it's nothing to worry about, and they don't chase you down the street. Most news stories about something like that would be something more along the lines of "Run for your lives! Killer snake loose on the streets! It aims for the face!" While it isn't the best publicity for the the hobby, at least it was factual and not just playing up to people's fears of snakes to get more attention.

---

Well, this is Winnipeg in October. Average daytime high is about 7 Celsius. Any herp that escapes here is dead in 24 hours or less. In the summer it might have been a different story.

What amazes me is how readily available it seems almost any type of antivenom is. I wonder how they decide to carry Gaboon antivenom.

There is a followup in the paper on this story today.

The victim *was* the snake's owner, and he does live inside the city limits. So there is a $1,000 fine for having the Gaboon illegally, and the animal was destroyed. Interestingly enough, the authorities did not destroy it, the owner's friends did for some reason. Or at least that's what they told the police ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BlueSilver

What amazes me is how readily available it seems almost any type of antivenom is. I wonder how they decide to carry Gaboon antivenom.

---

Its not readily available. It was flown from a hospital in Toronto (2500 Kms away). Most hospitals in Canada carry a very limited range of anti-venoms. It is produced with the help of horses blood mixed with the venom, and the antibodies in the horses blood create the 'anti-venom'.

wow what a crazy story. You'd think someone "knowledgeable" about hots would know not to get anywhere near where it could strike his face.

I do agree they are an absolutely beautiful snake and if it were legal to keep hots here and if I thought I could handle one I would probably try to get one (not condoning it just saying I've thought about it).
Any word on how the guy is doing? Did he lose any flesh to the necrotization (sp?)? I'm assuming he's doing ok since the authorities decided to fine him $1000 lol.