Welp! This ain't good! Python found wrapped around dead woman neck in house w/ 140 sn

[mdb730]

Sad news, tragedy regardless if she was killed by the snake or natural causes. I saw this story yesterday on yahoo and of course I had no less than 5 people send me the link and of course the pictures used were that of a ball python. Hopefully this doesn't snowball into hysteria although i'm sure local politicians will be foaming at the mouth to introduce new regs.

[ladywhipple02]

According to the news articles 20 of the snakes were hers, the rest belonged to the homeowner who actually lives next door.

The homeowner is the county sheriff and said back in 2001 during an interview when he was initially running for the position that he kept snakes as pets and bred them. So, I doubt they will be destroyed.

This is the truth, however a LOT of the news agencies reporting the story are completely failing to mention any of this information. The guy has an ENTIRE HOUSE that he owns solely for the purpose of keeping his snakes and his operation, not to mention that he's an upstanding member of the community and was voted into an important government office.

[Andiamo]

there are some people currently on YT right now that IMO, are taking huge and unnecessary risks. One young lady with anacondas in particular.

[dakski]

The author of the story, who I emailed, got back to me today.

He asked if he could possibly quote me to best convey my concerns.

I am not sure if he will, but good to know he read the email.

I'll keep everyone in the loop.

[Caitlin]

It might not be a bad idea, when you run across this story being discussed on various reptile forums, to remind folks that today would be a great day to make a donation to USARK. This sort of news coverage is exactly the sort of thing that can spark irrational and ignorant laws. I'm sending a donation as soon as I finish posting this.

[Midwest]

Not sure if this has been posted yet or not. Other side of the State from me but tragic none the less. If you can't open the link from the local paper you can google it, I saw the story made national news this morning.
https://www.thestarpress.com/story/n...se/4121139002/

[Bogertophis]

Yes, thanks, we've been talking about it quite a lot. Very sad.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-woman-neck-in

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Yes, thanks, we've been talking about it quite a lot. Very sad.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-woman-neck-in

Merged

[Bogertophis]

https://usark.us4.list-manage.com/tr...0&e=3b027cc1fe
Statement on Reptile Facility Tragedy

By USARK on November 1, 2019
It is with great sadness we have learned that on Wednesday, October 30th, a woman was found dead at a reptile breeding facility in Oxford, Indiana. The victim was found unconscious with a reticulated python around her neck and shoulders, and efforts at resuscitation were unsuccessful. An autopsy to determine the official cause of death has been scheduled for Friday, November 1st.
The victim has been identified as Laura Hurst, 36, of Battle Ground, Indiana. Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of Ms. Hurst. This unfortunate incident appears to have involved the handling of a reticulated python of around eight feet in length while Ms. Hurst was alone in a reptile facility where she regularly volunteered. We have been informed that the many hours spent at this facility caring for the reptiles, which included some of her own pets, were an enormous source of joy and enthusiasm for Ms. Hurst. This great loss deeply saddens the reptile keeping community.
This is truly a tragic event, as is the premature death of any person, however it is important that constrictor snakes and the risks associated with keeping them are viewed with proper perspective. Fatalities from reptiles kept under human care have been, and remain rare incidents. This is confirmed in accident and emergency statistics which illustrate that modern herpetoculture (the keeping of reptiles and amphibians) is nearly devoid of serious incidents. Regarding reticulated pythons specifically, thousands of these animals are kept in the United States, with any incidents being exceedingly rare.
The United States Association of Reptile Keepers and our membership represent all aspects of reptile keeping and advocacy. It is because of our appreciation for these amazing animals, and the tremendous enjoyment which pet owners derive from their bond with their reptile pets, that we solidify our commitment to the responsible, proper, and humane keeping and care of reptiles. For certain species, such as the largest constricting snake species, certain management practices and operational procedures should be in place. Unfortunately, in this case, there was a violation of the facility’s established protocol to never handle larger animals unassisted. The owner of the facility where Ms. Hurst was found stated, “This was a terrible, unfortunate, and tragic accident. It was avoidable and we should never become overly confident with our animals to the point that we are avoiding safe handling procedures.”
We urge everyone in the herpetocultural community to become educated on proper handling protocols, techniques, and husbandry measures. Responsibility in animal ownership is paramount. Any facility workers or volunteers must be actively taught to minimize the already-small risks involved in keeping reptiles, with these precautions readily and frequently reviewed. Similarly, private keepers working with animals in their home should adopt formal protocols to mitigate any assumed risk.
In the wake of this heartbreaking loss, it is important to maintain both our composure and our compassion. The persecution of responsible reptile keepers and disproportionate restrictions on the ownership of these animals will sound appealing to some. With a knowledgeable perspective, these animals can be maintained without incident by utilizing sound practices and standards. Please make this the last instance of such a tragedy, by following established practices and protocols. We again extend our condolences to family and friends.

Posted in Uncategorized

[Bogertophis]

Something to keep in mind -when people bring up this story as a warning about keeping snakes- is that in this country, there are FAR more injuries & deaths from
horses than snakes, & yet you will never hear people yelling about banning horses. Horses are even "domestic" animals, unlike snakes.

Accidents happen, & accidents can kill, no matter what you're doing. Prevent them & avoid being a statistic by following safety protocols when working with large
or venomous snakes. I really hate that we lost such a dedicated snake keeper as Laura Hurst apparently was...and it didn't have to happen.