Python tries to eat pet store worker
@phillygirl606 (1112)
United States
April 19, 2008 9:32pm CST
A pet store owner is calling a police sergeant a hero for saving her from the coils of a 12-foot (3.6-meter) Burmese python doing its best to turn her into a meal.
Teresa Rossiter had reached into a cage Thursday to show the huge snake to a customer when it bit her right hand and coiled around her left arm to throw her to the floor.
A friend who happened to be at the store kept the snake off her neck and body while police were called. And when Sgt. Ryan Nelson rushed into the store, he was ready to kill the snake with his knife.
But Rossiter asked him to spare the expensive python, so Nelson put on gloves and pried open the snake's mouth to free Rossiter's hand.
Two responders from the Eugene Fire Department helped unwrap the snake, which was eventually returned to its cage.
Rossiter called Nelson a hero."He was the bravest guy ever. He went way above and beyond the call of duty," she told The Oregonian.
Rossiter suffered dozens of puncture wounds, but she, the sergeant and the python were fine.
Heres my question though: Isn't the snake now considered dangerous? I mean he did try to eat the girl. And won't the snake try to do it again? And what confuses me is if the snake wanted to eat this woman how many days did this snake go without eating? The snake would have sized her up and stopped eating awhile ago. So how come no one noticed this?
4 people like this
9 responses
@DevilHands (573)
• Philippines
20 Apr 08
Now that's scary, but is that snake really capable of eating an adult woman? I can't imagine... but yes, that snake is considered dangerous and I don't think it's capable of being considered as a pet, specially after what had happened. Although it must have really been just really hungry though... but still... I would just have given/sell it to the zoo.
@phillygirl606 (1112)
• United States
20 Apr 08
The woman must have bee really well trained around animals though if you think about it, She actually told the cop not to kill the snake. I know it would be the exact opposite for me. If a snake had hold of me, I'd be yelling for the cop to kill it, lol
@DevilHands (573)
• Philippines
20 Apr 08
Haha... if your gonna think about it. The woman actually cares more about her money than her life. I believe the reason why she didn't want the snake to get killed was because it was expensive.
@phillygirl606 (1112)
• United States
21 Apr 08
I didn't even think of the money aspect of it. your right that snake probably is worth a lot of money. I don't think I would have been able to sell this snake to someone who possibly might have a family. The thing in my opinion belongs in a zoo
@mnflower (1299)
• United States
21 Apr 08
yes I think that the snake should be killed, I have seen many instances that snakes attacks there owners. There are vicious animals and should be in the same category as all the bad dogs they call killers...so why shouldn't the snake be killed it was a pet and dogs and cats and other various animals have been killed for less. this is not fair if they let this animal live and I hope that the pet owner attendant does not allow snakes in her show anymore they should not be available for sale anywhere, they are a wild animal and should not be caged just not fair to animals..set it free or dispose of it..
@phillygirl606 (1112)
• United States
21 Apr 08
Exactly, some dogs and other pets are put to sleep for so much less. These wild animals need to stay wild animals. Their has to be something done about these exotic breeders and people who buy these exotic animals.I did a web search on exotic animal breeders just to see what was out there and I could not believe some of the animals that were being sold.
@irdsm1 (288)
• United States
21 Apr 08
Reptiles, as I said above, are not like mammals. They are detached and although they can feel affection toward their owners and may enjoy attention they are unpredictable. This doesn't mean that they shouldn't be kept, it means that the owner should respect their pet's powers and unpredictability and be prepared to deal with these situations when they occur. The animal should not be killed unless it has shown this behavior repeatedly, unlike a dog which is more likely to bite a person after doing it once, reptiles do not think that way.
As for exotic pets in general, an owner must know how to care for and respect the animals in their care. It would not be right to restrict responsible owners from captive bred exotics because some people are not prepared to care for them. I, for example, have researched the care in depth for a multitude of marine fish and invertebrates, coatimundis, flying squirrels, prevost squirrels, ringtail cats, ringtail lemurs, foxes, genets, argentine black&white tegus, bearded dragons, anoles, hognose snakes, cappucin monkeys, and wallabies to name a few, and feel that with the proper equipment, room and dietary needs I could provide for any one of these animals and if I got bit or scratched I know it would be my fault and would be prepared to deal with it.
Dan
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
21 Apr 08
Unlike dogs and cats, snakes aren't domesticated. They are wild animals period. If it was me, I would return the snake to it's native habitat being it's that big. I would never own a snake or any other reptile that grows more than 2' in length.
@phillygirl606 (1112)
• United States
21 Apr 08
I would never want to own a pet that was bigger than me. Some of these exotic pets need to stay in the wild. It's just like this new trend, people are not getting hedgehogs as pets, which I cannot understand how. They have sharp spines that are needle like. What would be the enjoyment of having a pet like that. And I agree with you these wild animals needs to stay in the wild.
Thanks for responding.
@bond0077 (375)
•
20 Apr 08
y is it people always think that just because you treat a wild animal or reptile they will always reward you as you do them?i actually watch some footage of these types of accident,in one a guy got out of his car to take a picture with a black bear they were feeding from their car and well let just say saw a much juicer steak than the dog food they were feeding him ok?animals and reptiles like humans have bad moods and good except when they are in one they can eat you just like no tomorrow!
@phillygirl606 (1112)
• United States
21 Apr 08
your right people need to keep in mind that these are wild animals. Even if they happen to be in the pet store. And that a wild animal is unpredictable. That no matter how much training and handling they are always gone to go back to their natural instincts. Wow the guy really got out of the car to get a picture with that bear, wow talk about crazy or just plain dumb.
@98765m (1017)
• India
20 Apr 08
Its a horrible,sad incident indeed.
Thank God,she is fine.
Well,as for your question,I think it may try again.Its a possibility which cannot be over looked.
And for this question:
"And what confuses me is if the snake wanted to eat this woman how many days did this snake go without eating? The snake would have sized her up and stopped eating awhile ago. So how come no one noticed this?"
I am not an expert in this.But,I think that huge snakes like python don't eat daily.
They eat a considerably big animal like goat,deer ,dog etc.Then they lie dormant for about 3 weeks[not sure of the exact duration].
If it cannot sleep after eating the prey,due to some disturbances,it will die.
So,I think that it must have been projected to feed in a day or two.And I think that the snake felt very hungry and so went for the care taker.
Let ,at least from now on,they are more careful with the snake.
Cheers! Have a great day
Happy mylotting
So,I think that it must have been projected to feed in a day or two.And I think that the snake felt very hungry and so went for the care taker.
Let ,at least from now on,they are more careful with the snake.
Cheers! Have a great day
Happy mylotting@phillygirl606 (1112)
• United States
21 Apr 08
Thanks so much for the quick lesson on a snakes eating habit. silly me I was thinking that a snake that big still ate mice and rats, small animals. Creepy though, no one ever imagines their pet actually trying to eat them.
@irdsm1 (288)
• United States
20 Apr 08
Reptiles are more detached than most mammals. They do not bite someone and then think it is okay to bite them again, they just bite someone period. They may do it again or may not. There is no telling, and they will do what they think is a good idea even if it seems random. That snake is about as likely to turn around and bite another person as any other snake even though it showed the behavior once in the past. Unless the snake has a history of biting and attacking it is most likely just a random occurrence. Why should it be killed? (and with alot exotic pets 1 bite=insta-kill according to authorities)
Dan
@phillygirl606 (1112)
• United States
21 Apr 08
you make a very good point. And I learned some things. I don't know much about snakes so. But I do think the snake should maybe go to a zoo now or to an experienced snake person.
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
20 Apr 08
I am not a snake expert, but when you think about this, they do kill dogs for biting people, why not snakes?
@athinapie (1150)
• Philippines
20 Apr 08
now that's really scary! they should really feed that snake because we have to admit, snakes are one of the animals that are feared by humans. if they don't eat then they would go out of their way to eat anything, especially humans. they should really take precaution on this.
