18 foot snake attacks child in Las Vegas

18 foot snake attacks child in Las Vegas

18 foot snake attacks child in Las Vegas

Posted: Jan 21, 2009 11:49 PM

A three-year-old boy and his mother are recovering from an attack by an eighteen foot snake in Las Vegas.

The family was taking care of the snake for some friends who were remodeling their business, where it is normally an attraction.

They are calling the attack a freak accident, because they do not know how the snake got loose.

Authorites agree, and credit the mom's quick thinking for stopping that accident from being a lot worse. Read more about the family's account of what happened by clicking here.

"It took all six of us to get that snake into custody. It made just a little loop on my hand while we were wrestling with it, and it felt like a vice. I've never felt anything like that," says Metro Sergeant, Steve Custer.

Custer and officer, Jerry Ybarra, have almost half a century of law enforcement experience between them, but even that could not prepare them for the snake attack they rushed to Tuesday.

"We go into bars after bad guys all the time, guns, never blink an eye, but we looked at that snake, and there was a lot of dancing and screaming going on," says Custer.

"Once animal control got there, we'd try to grasp him with her little tool that she has, and he would just hiss at us, and that was pretty terrifying," adds Ybarra.

The Reticulated Python was about eighteen feet long, far bigger than the three-year-old boy it had wrapped itself around.

But, maternal instinct proved to be far stronger than eighteen feet of muscle.

"The mom said that he was initially crying, then she came out and went for the knife. At one point, he did stop crying and was turning blue. Then, she was able to get the baby away from the snake," says Ybarra.

The knife wounds were so severe, the snake had had to be euthanized at Lied Animal Shelter, where the family's five other, much smaller, snakes were taken.

Fortunately, though, mother and child will be just fine.

"This was definitely a first for me," says Ybarra.

"I've seen and done some amazing things in my 36 years of being here, never come across this, ever," adds Custer.

Large snakes are allowed to be kept privately in Clark County, as long as they are not poisonous.

Metro says that no laws were broken, and that the attack can be likened to any other by a family pet, like a dog, for example.

And there goes another nail in the coffin.

I'm glad to see that at least they are likening it to a dog attack so that people don't go up in arms about this. I am still in awe of anyone that keeps these though, I can't imagine.

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Originally Posted by grammie

I'm glad to see that at least they are likening it to a dog attack so that people don't go up in arms about this. I am still in awe of anyone that keeps these though, I can't imagine.

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That is assuming they take the time to read the whole article. For a lot of people though, all they are going to see is a big snake almost killed a little kid.

http://www.ktnv.com/global/story.asp?s=9713225
A three-year-old boy and his mother are recovering from an attack by an eighteen foot snake in Las Vegas.

The family was taking care of the snake for some friends who were remodeling their business, where it is normally an attraction.

They are calling the attack a freak accident, because they do not know how the snake got loose.

Authorites agree, and credit the mom's quick thinking for stopping that accident from being a lot worse....



They seemed to leave out a lot of details.
Like how it escaped

Merged both threads :gj:

at least the story didnt depict anything too "wow" like...
like if they were acting like all snakes can kill you and blah blah blah...
its alot better than most stories ive heard. and yet again, another stupid person...

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Originally Posted by brainman1000

Large snakes are allowed to be kept privately in Clark County, as long as they are not poisonous.

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thats cool, atleast they are allowed to have venomous :rolleyes:

I was watching the video of the reticulated python attack, and couldn't help but notice the story title image next to the news-caster...

Underlying the text that says "Python Attacks" is a picture of a ball python, which naturally, some idiot at the station most likely ripped off from Google images and just ran with it...

http://projectpython.com/stuff/ball_python_attack.jpg

BrandonsBalls

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Originally Posted by BrandonsBalls

I was watching the video of the reticulated python attack, and couldn't help but notice the story title image next to the news-caster...

Underlying the text that says "Python Attacks" is a picture of a ball python, which naturally, some idiot at the station most likely ripped off from Google images and just ran with it...

http://projectpython.com/stuff/ball_python_attack.jpg

BrandonsBalls

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I saw it on the news last night and laughed.

*Sighs*
On one hand I wish they would make stricter restrictions on owning large snakes, Like for instance Lisences, permits, screening people who want or are owning large constrictors. And on the other hand I am like, well there goes the hobby.

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Originally Posted by FIEND_FO_LYFE

thats cool, atleast they are allowed to have venomous :rolleyes:

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:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

watch the video the grafic for the news broadcast is a Ball.....

In Florida you have to be certified to own a snake over 8 feet. It's a new law from probably 2 years or less ago.

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Originally Posted by anatess

In Florida you have to be certified to own a snake over 8 feet. It's a new law from probably 2 years or less ago.

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Most people should be.

I don't think kids should be allowed around these snakes. I didn't let my 5 year old cousins around my 10' retic. Even while I was there. They're too powerful and will take advantage of any situation given the opportunity.

How this snake got out of the cage, who knows. They probably didn't have a lock on the cage. Or hell, I've even heard of retics escaping locked cages. What was a child was doing in a room with an 18' snake? That door should be locked. That lady's lucky she heard her child scream. Had she been outside, I doubt she would have heard it and bye bye baby.

I'm glad to know that my ball pythons are awful, dangerous animals. -Rolls her eyes.- Idiots.

did anyone hear them mention what kind of snakes the other ones were i live in vegas so maybe i could go get soome as long as there not retics or something

Why can't they keep their other snakes?

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Originally Posted by BrandonsBalls

some idiot at the station most likely ripped off from Google images and just ran with it...

http://projectpython.com/stuff/ball_python_attack.jpg

BrandonsBalls

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http://images.google.com/images?um=1...&q=ball+python

Bottom right hand corner:salute:

Edit* It moves depending on how big of a screen your on

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

http://images.google.com/images?um=1...&q=ball+python

Bottom right hand corner:salute:

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Nice Catch! Can they do that?

Its now on the 2nd page of the link, on the top left corner.

[QUOTE=Jyson;965664]Nice Catch! Can they do that?

Its now on the 2nd page of the link, on the top left corner.[/]

I think it moves depending on how big your screen is, im on my huge 17 in laptop

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Originally Posted by Beardedragon

I think it moves depending on how big your screen is, im on my huge 17 in laptop

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Oh, ok, yeah, my screen is small.

If the pic had a copy right mark or something I guess they would be in the wrong. But I see none so nothing can be done.

I looked at three pages and did not see this pic your talking about through the google link.

Well guys this is definitely a blow but I'll give you a few tidbits the snake after death was a bit shy of 15 feet and I picked him up in a dog crate all by my lonesome(If you dont know I recently broke my leg and I'm still recovering so no way that thing weighed over 300lbs) and the family of the child was letting the snake roam the home( it wasn't clear if it was the home or just one room). I arrived just as the Deputies were boxing him in the dog crate but he was already dead by that time. After getting him to my local vets office I took him out and measured him as best as I could and thats where i got the almost 15 feet. Not sure what else to say my first snake was a Tiger Retic and I had him for almost 6 year. I donated him to the San Diego Zoo about 4 year ago and these big snakes will alway have a spot in my heart. Well I am still very happy that both the child and mother are ok and as far as I have heard didn't even need any stitches. I will say that if a snake period has struck and wrapped my child I would have done anything to help my child and I think the mother did exactly that so I have to say she did what any of us would have done if put in the same situation.

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Originally Posted by Royal Morphz

Well guys this is definitely a blow but I'll give you a few tidbits the snake after death was a bit shy of 15 feet and I picked him up in a dog crate all by my lonesome(If you dont know I recently broke my leg and I'm still recovering so no way that thing weighed over 300lbs) and the family of the child was letting the snake roam the home( it wasn't clear if it was the home or just one room). I arrived just as the Deputies were boxing him in the dog crate but he was already dead by that time. After getting him to my local vets office I took him out and measured him as best as I could and thats where i got the almost 15 feet. Not sure what else to say my first snake was a Tiger Retic and I had him for almost 6 year. I donated him to the San Diego Zoo about 4 year ago and these big snakes will alway have a spot in my heart. Well I am still very happy that both the child and mother are ok and as far as I have heard didn't even need any stitches. I will say that if a snake period has struck and wrapped my child I would have done anything to help my child and I think the mother did exactly that so I have to say she did what any of us would have done if put in the same situation.

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hey tim did you see what the other snakes were

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Originally Posted by jere000

hey tim did you see what the other snakes were

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I didn't go inside but the only snake I saw was the dead Retic although I'm not saying there wasn't more. I just didn't see or hear about more. I'm inclided to say there either weren't anymore or they weren't taking any more from the home as I was the volunteer removing them and they would have given me all snakes that were removed.

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Originally Posted by Royal Morphz

I didn't go inside but the only snake I saw was the dead Retic although I'm not saying there wasn't more. I just didn't see or hear about more. I'm inclided to say there either weren't anymore or they weren't taking any more from the home as I was the volunteer removing them and they would have given me all snakes that were removed.

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really thats awesome although having to put down retic probally wasnt cool

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Originally Posted by grammie

I'm glad to see that at least they are likening it to a dog attack so that people don't go up in arms about this. I am still in awe of anyone that keeps these though, I can't imagine.

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As long as you use common sense having a big snake is the same as having a ball python in my opinion.I am not picking at this but snakes do not get loose on there own ;).

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Originally Posted by joepythons

As long as you use common sense having a big snake is the same as having a ball python in my opinion.

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Sure. Just 5 times longer and 15+ times heavier.

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Originally Posted by joepythons

I am not picking at this but snakes do not get loose on there own ;).

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Maybe not in most parts of the country, but hurricanes can certainly cause them to get loose in some southern states.

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Originally Posted by SecurityStacey

That is assuming they take the time to read the whole article. For a lot of people though, all they are going to see is a big snake almost killed a little kid.

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You took the words right out of my mouth.

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Originally Posted by RKO

Sure. Just 5 times longer and 15+ times heavier.


Maybe not in most parts of the country, but hurricanes can certainly cause them to get loose in some southern states.

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Where does it say they had a hurricane :rolleyes:.I guess i should have said it more simple, NO SNAKE GETS LOOSE ON ITS OWN! So someone messed up and the snake lost its life because of it.

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Originally Posted by BrandonsBalls

I was watching the video of the reticulated python attack, and couldn't help but notice the story title image next to the news-caster...

Underlying the text that says "Python Attacks" is a picture of a ball python, which naturally, some idiot at the station most likely ripped off from Google images and just ran with it...

http://projectpython.com/stuff/ball_python_attack.jpg

BrandonsBalls

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You didnt know there were 18ft ball python morphs now? It is call Python Regius Gigantis:)

at least it's a python... a lot of times i've seen pics of boas when they're referencing pythons!

glad the family is alrite, but thats a shame that the poor snake had to suffer because of this familys irresponsibility:(

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Originally Posted by joepythons

Where does it say they had a hurricane :rolleyes:.I guess i should have said it more simple, NO SNAKE GETS LOOSE ON ITS OWN! So someone messed up and the snake lost its life because of it.

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You're exact words were "snakes do not get loose on there own"

Snakes is plural, more than one.

And yes, snakes do get loose on their own. It's called escaping.

And this snake did not escape because if you read Tim's post, you would see that they let the snake roam the house.

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Originally Posted by Colin Vestrand

at least it's a python... a lot of times i've seen pics of boas when they're referencing pythons!

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To them a snake is a snake...

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Originally Posted by RKO

You're exact words were "snakes do not get loose on there own"

Snakes is plural, more than one.

And yes, snakes do get loose on their own. It's called escaping.

And this snake did not escape because if you read Tim's post, you would see that they let the snake roam the house.

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I believe that the point he is making is, if it escaped an enclosure, then either the human did not latch said enclosure, or built it to poor standards. In turn, did not escape on its own.

Ess-CAP-EY

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Originally Posted by RKO

You're exact words were "snakes do not get loose on there own"

Snakes is plural, more than one.

And yes, snakes do get loose on their own. It's called escaping.

And this snake did not escape because if you read Tim's post, you would see that they let the snake roam the house.

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I know what you are up to but i will reply this last time to point something out.NO SNAKE OR SNAKES CAN ESCAPE FROM A PROPER ENCLOSURE!!! If the keeper has properly secured the enclosure then the reptile CAN NOT escape.Yes i read after i first posted that these idiots had the snake roaming free :mad:.

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Originally Posted by Typical_08

I believe that the point he is making is, if it escaped an enclosure, then either the human did not latch said enclosure, or built it to poor standards. In turn, did not escape on its own.

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He knows what i was saying ;).Thank you for pointing it out though :gj:

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Originally Posted by LadyOhh

Ess-CAP-EY

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That's funny, it's kinda spelled like the word ESCAPE!!

hehe love it heather. I got an email back from the balls email owner and the picture in fact was taken without permission and he will be contacting them shortly and will keep me updated.

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Originally Posted by Typical_08

I believe that the point he is making is, if it escaped an enclosure, then either the human did not latch said enclosure, or built it to poor standards. In turn, did not escape on its own.

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But it did not escape an enclosure.

Unless you're (not YOU) the type of person who believes an entire room should be turned into an enclosure for a retic. In which case the kid invaded the snakes 'enclosure' and they snake may have mistaken the kid for food. I don't know how they fed it, so I cannot stay.

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Originally Posted by joepythons

I know what you are up to but i will reply this last time to point something out.NO SNAKE OR SNAKES CAN ESCAPE FROM A PROPER ENCLOSURE!!! If the keeper has properly secured the enclosure then the reptile CAN NOT escape.Yes i read after i first posted that these idiots had the snake roaming free :mad:.

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No, you do not know anything about me. Do you really think I want to just waste my time to try to make attacks at you?:rolleyes:

And yes, they can escape from locked enclosures. From 10 gallon aquariums with cage clips to, to pushing out their tubs in racks, to the sad story I heard of a male retic escaping a locked vision cage only to somehow get into another males (LOCKED) cage and fighting to death.