Post by: gunsmith on December 31, 2006, 05:41:43 PM
14-foot Python attacks handler during show in Tarpon Springs
Tarpon Springs, Florida - Tarpon Springs Police officers say a 14-foot Burmese Python attacked a female handler at the Tarpon Springs Aquarium this afternoon.
Officers arrived at the facility just before 2:00 p.m. at 848 Dodecanese Boulevard at the west end of the sponge dock tourist area.
They say the beast, named Chloe, attacked 18-year-old Alison Cobianchi of Holiday during a show.
Cobianchi was supposed to remove the snake from its cage and talk about the animal. Today, the snake became aggressive, wrapped itself around her arm and waist and bit her on the right hand.
A manager and another handler tried to separate the snake from Cobianchi as she was being pulled into its cage. People in the show also tried to help and were unable to get her free.
An officer deployed his Taser on the snake. After a few seconds, Chloe released her grasp and allowed Cobianchi to get free. The Python then retreated to her cage. The victim was treated by paramedics and taken to Helen Ellis Hospital for treatment.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission will investigate
Post by: Perd Hapley on December 31, 2006, 09:15:50 PM
Post by: esheato on December 31, 2006, 11:06:54 PM
But if this shall ever occur in my immediate vicinity, I feel prepared to remedy the situation.
Post by: Dannyboy on January 01, 2007, 06:21:16 AM
Post by: InfidelSerf on January 01, 2007, 06:25:48 AM
Post by: MechAg94 on January 01, 2007, 07:38:24 AM
Post by: mustanger98 on January 01, 2007, 09:04:06 AM
Hell, my first thought was didn't anyone have a pocket knife?
That was my thought... 'cept for I was thinking of a Crocodile Dundee sized Bowie knife.
Post by: K Frame on January 01, 2007, 09:34:19 AM
OOH! I know the answer to this!
A kinky poster on the wall of every teenage male in the country?
Or has that been done already?
Post by: 280plus on January 01, 2007, 11:55:34 AM
Quote
A kinky poster
That's where I thought this thread was heading.
Post by: gunsmith on January 01, 2007, 12:03:32 PM
Heh, I meant , (gee whiz you guys) that no one, let alone an 18 yr old girl
should ever think it is safe to handle a 14 ft python by them selves.
They are never tame, a snake that size could be a serious threat.
Post by: Bigjake on January 01, 2007, 06:15:57 PM
Quote
Sad thing is the poor snake could be destroyed for it's actions.
hell with that slithery bastard, mighty fine pair of boots there, and i work with a SE asian good ol' boy that would consider that good eating
Post by: stevelyn on January 01, 2007, 07:44:11 PM
My first though was "equals a pretty wild show in Tijuana"................until I started reading the thread.
Of course my sentiments are similar to Bigjake's. He sees boots. I see holsters and mag carriers.
Post by: Strings on January 01, 2007, 08:26:50 PM
Actually... yes, they can be. I knew a couple that had an 18 footer that followed the lady of the house around all the time, and was VERY protective of "mom".
What I was told for dealing with the larger snakes (besides "don't mess with 'em when they're acting agressive") was to keep a spray bottle of alchohol on you (bourbon was the recomended type). When the overgrown rodent disposal wraps, spray it in the face: the alchohol dries out their nasal caities, and they relaz their bodiy. I'm assuming bourbon is prefered so you have something pleasant to drink immediately after extracting yourself...
Post by: Twycross on January 01, 2007, 10:51:32 PM
He sees boots. I see holsters and mag carriers.
A snakeskin holster. What gun would go with that? I'm thinking some sort of stainless revolver.
Post by: gunsmith on January 01, 2007, 11:09:28 PM
to aggression, I can not remember if Burmese are these kind or not.
I used to really into herpetology and I assure you, despite what
you saw, letting an 18 ft snake have free roam about the house is really dangerous.
Even unsanitary, an easy way to get sick is to handle a snake and forget to wash your hands
as they ...uh...can not really wash their hands when they excrete and ...uh...live in their own ...well you get the pic.
Snakes are dumb as post, and any snake may bite you, even the one that you think is your best friend.
retarded mice are a billion to the 100th power times smarter then the smartest snake.
Post by: 280plus on January 02, 2007, 03:10:56 AM
Post by: Chris on January 02, 2007, 03:51:14 AM
Sorry, having adolescent flashbacks...Christina Applegate..mmmmmmmm
Post by: Stickjockey on January 02, 2007, 04:03:44 AM
Quote
A snakeskin holster. What gun would go with that? I'm thinking some sort of stainless revolver.
I'm thinkin' maybe a Colt Python?
Post by: roo_ster on January 02, 2007, 06:05:06 AM
If'n I was in the audience, a pocketknife would have been available, as would a SW1911.
I would never trust a reptile strong/dangerous enough to kill me. Just not enough upstairs going on to form an attachment like a mammal can.
If you are down thataway, I can not recommend enough the little restaurant named "Plaka" on that street. Gyros to die for.
An 18' python might be enough to provide for boots and carry gear.
Post by: Felonious Monk/Fignozzle on January 02, 2007, 08:12:30 AM
I must respectfully disagree with both of you. With one exception:
The Incredibly Deadly Viper. It is a very large snake that is, in fact, not deadly at all. The snake was discovered by Montgomery Montgomery in an unknown land.
Snickets trivia. Everyone with kids under 14 knows this.
Post by: MechAg94 on January 02, 2007, 09:38:52 AM
Quote
Actually... yes, they can be. I knew a couple that had an 18 footer that followed the lady of the house around all the time, and was VERY protective of "mom".
What I was told for dealing with the larger snakes (besides "don't mess with 'em when they're acting agressive") was to keep a spray bottle of alchohol on you (bourbon was the recommended type). When the overgrown rodent disposal wraps, spray it in the face: the alchohol dries out their nasal caities, and they relaz their bodiy. I'm assuming bourbon is preferred so you have something pleasant to drink immediately after extracting yourself...
Owners of pit bulls or other dogs who attack people always say stuff like that also. What I was told for dealing with the larger snakes (besides "don't mess with 'em when they're acting agressive") was to keep a spray bottle of alchohol on you (bourbon was the recommended type). When the overgrown rodent disposal wraps, spray it in the face: the alchohol dries out their nasal caities, and they relaz their bodiy. I'm assuming bourbon is preferred so you have something pleasant to drink immediately after extracting yourself...
Why should I have to keep a spray bottle around to keep my pet from attacking me? For zoo animals I can understand.
Post by: Strings on January 02, 2007, 10:07:49 AM
Gunsmith: being "really into herpetology" is just a touch different from dealing with the individual animals (especially in some of the areas I'm thinking: remember, my old man is in Thailand, and has told some interesting stories). It IS possible for a snake to form a bond: I had one that did. A snake is just like any other animal: it takes time and work to socialize 'em. That said...
I can't see keeping an animal around the house that could see you as a potential meal. Just NOT a good idea...
Post by: MechAg94 on January 02, 2007, 10:10:37 AM
I guess cats don't really think you are a meal, they just think they are better than you. Dogs I have experience with just see you as their personal entertainment supervisor.
Post by: Strings on January 02, 2007, 10:21:40 AM
Post by: Gewehr98 on January 02, 2007, 11:35:30 AM
Hmmm, girls and pythons...
Post by: Perd Hapley on January 02, 2007, 11:56:33 AM
Post by: gunsmith on January 03, 2007, 07:13:15 AM
I still think brain damaged mice are like brain surgeons compared to the smartest nicest snake out there.
Post by: Antibubba on January 03, 2007, 09:57:58 PM
Quote
re-realizing that I'm totally in love with Beverly DeAngelo
WOW! I thought I was the only one!
Post by: CAnnoneer on January 22, 2007, 06:04:41 PM
All this "animals are our friends" nonsense is so silly, especially when applied to predators.
Post by: Firethorn on January 23, 2007, 08:31:56 AM
All this "animals are our friends" nonsense is so silly, especially when applied to predators.
I'll note that both cats and dogs are also predators, and herbivores like horses, goats and such make poor pets. Even omivorous pigs are in the 'special' pet category.
Though dogs are pack animals, and cats do form structures and dominance chains. The fact that we've made it so that dogs will fit us into their pack structure(at the top hopefully) and we're too large to be the cat's prey helps.
Post by: mustanger98 on January 23, 2007, 09:05:10 AM
Hollywierd aside, I don't think much of pigs as pets.
I recall, thinking back on the original subject of snakes, there was a guy on Georgia Public TV... Okeefenokee Joe... he opined that snakes make interesting pets, but they don't make good pets. I recall one of my cousins-in-law had a couple of big pythons... his father-in-law said if they got loose in his house, he was getting after 'em with his old rabbit-ears shotgun.
Post by: Perd Hapley on January 23, 2007, 10:05:05 AM
Post by: CAnnoneer on January 23, 2007, 11:10:24 AM
Quote from: fistful
CAnnoneer apparantly lives someplace where the dog has never been domesticated.
The illusion of control.
Post by: gunsmith on January 23, 2007, 04:22:34 PM
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Machievelli
You know, if you got zapped by a shrink way, the dog would kill you by accident but the cat would do it on purpose.
That is why I obey the kitty.
Post by: Perd Hapley on January 23, 2007, 05:15:21 PM
Quote from: fistful
CAnnoneer apparantly lives someplace where the dog has never been domesticated.
The illusion of control.
No, the control is real, as far as it goes. And it goes pretty far, when you consider how many things you can do to your dog and still be his very favoritist person in the whole world. I.e., hold him down while the vet works on him, etc. Of course, that's the real illusion. I don't think dogs know about love or friendship, they just please the alpha dog (the owner) when he takes good care of their needs. The effect is the same, though.
Post by: CAnnoneer on January 23, 2007, 05:34:43 PM
Quote from: fistful
I don't think dogs know about love or friendship, they just please the alpha dog
Both the friendship and control are illusions, IMO. What prevents your dog from deciding one day that it is his time to be alpha, so he rips your jugular out in your sleep?
Post by: MechAg94 on January 23, 2007, 05:47:43 PM
Why would a dog want to kill his human master who waits on him hand and foot? Who is training who?
Besides, who would throw the ball?
Post by: Perd Hapley on January 23, 2007, 06:35:19 PM
Quote
What prevents your dog from deciding one day that it is his time to be alpha, so he rips your jugular out in your sleep?
Primarily, it's the fact that he's a domesticated dog and domesticated dogs generally don't do that. That's why we call them "domesticated." Is that not so?
Post by: cosine on January 23, 2007, 06:37:14 PM
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What prevents your dog from deciding one day that it is his time to be alpha, so he rips your jugular out in your sleep?
Primarily, it's the fact that he's a domesticated dog and domesticated dogs generally don't do that. That's why we call them "domesticated." Is that not so?
So, such a dog does not generally do that because he's domesticated, and such a dog is domesticated because he does not generally do that.
Perfect logic.
Post by: CAnnoneer on January 23, 2007, 07:29:17 PM
Quote from: fistful
domesticated dogs generally don't do that.
"Domesticated" dogs attack one another all the time. If they view their master as just another dog, be it alpha dog, it stands to reason they would also attack that alpha dog under the right circumstances. "Right" is decided by a brain that thinks it is a good idea for a chihuahua to bark at a German shepherd...
Post by: Headless Thompson Gunner on January 23, 2007, 07:37:28 PM
Quote from: fistful
domesticated dogs generally don't do that.
"Domesticated" dogs attack one another all the time. If they view their master as just another dog, be it alpha dog, it stands to reason they would also attack that alpha dog under the right circumstances. "Right" is decided by a brain that thinks it is a good idea for a chihuahua to bark at a German shepherd...
Post by: gunsmith on January 23, 2007, 10:01:14 PM
some folks ignore them, but we gunnies are to alpha for that.