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Nearly 7-foot long snake shot by state trooper

As far as the laws around here. You can own any snake without needing a permit as far as I know. BUT something like this may very well cause our local lawmakers decide there NEEDS to be a stupid law on the books that causes any of us who own any kind of snake, no matter HOW big they may get to have to get a permit to own them. THAT it the travesty of something like this.

Those who are responsible owners will be the ones in the end who end up being made to look guilty just because we own snakes. This truly makes me angry and very, very sad.
 
LBoz said:
That guy is a 3' tall man with "little man syndrome." Bet he feels like a big hero today. What a richard.
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Lori, I have to ask, is Richard your exhusband or something?

In Utah we call it LDS, Little Dick Syndrome.
 
wade said:
Lori, I have to ask, is Richard your exhusband or something?

In Utah we call it LDS, Little Dick Syndrome.
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LOL...no, but it's similar to what you called it. what's a nickname for Richard? (No offense to anyone named Richard on the board, tho!! I was attempting to be family-friendly.)
 
From what I read in the article in our local paper, the guy in the truck ran it over multiple times, to try and kill it. When the cop showed up, he probably just put the thing out of its misery. I'd imagine it had multiple serious internal injuries at that point, even though it was still acting quite aggressive.

That said, what the hell is wrong with people? First the person that let it go/it escaped from, then the guy who decided to run it over? I mean...wtf? There are multiple animal rescues in Grand Rapids, and a vet on call who specializes in herps. Used to work for the zoo, caring for their collection. He does emergencies.
 
ciara said:
From what I read in the article in our local paper, the guy in the truck ran it over multiple times, to try and kill it. When the cop showed up, he probably just put the thing out of its misery. I'd imagine it had multiple serious internal injuries at that point, even though it was still acting quite aggressive.

That said, what the hell is wrong with people? First the person that let it go/it escaped from, then the guy who decided to run it over? I mean...wtf? There are multiple animal rescues in Grand Rapids, and a vet on call who specializes in herps. Used to work for the zoo, caring for their collection. He does emergencies.
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I saw nothing posted that made it look like the cop shot it to "put it out of it's misery" It sounded to me like the cop thought it was going to eat him and he shot it to avoid being snack. After all this snake supposedly lived through being run over multiple times. Must have been a cyborg snake who even though it was only 6' long was able to attack a man in a truck, almost kill him and the cop was just doing his duty and saving the community from this vicious BEAST....:realhot:
 
A state trooper shot and killed a nearly 7-foot long snake, believed to be a Burmese python
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First, that's obviously a red-tailed boa, not a burm. Second, how does a snake act "aggressively" toward a moving truck?

I think the law they passed in FL is great! It will definitely cut down on the crazies that let big snakes loose when they are tired of them. It doesn't cover Boas however, so this one wouldn't have been covered. It does cover:

Burmese Python
Amethystine Python
Reticulated Python
African Rock Python
Green Anaconda
Nile Monitor

To own these in FL, you have to get a permit, which includes microchipping your animal and agreeing to periodic inspections of your facility and cages. Oh yeah, and a questionairre to prove that you know what you are doing and where to go when the need arises (to answer LBoz). This is not so much to prove that you are an expert, but to have documentation that you are 100% aware and responsible for anything that happens as a result of owning this animal.

1. What are the common names of the animals you plan to possess?
2. What are the scientific names of the animals you plan to possess? (Genus/species)
3. In what continent and country do the animals occur naturally in the wild?
4. How large (length, height, etc.) will these animals get when they are adults?
5. What is the average weight of the animals when they reach sexual maturity?
6. What do the animals eat in the wild?
7. What foods are available to you to feed your animals while in captivity?
8. How much do theses animals eat, as an adult, per day?
9. Are the animals you plan to possess social or solitary animals in the wild (excluding the mating season)?
10. What are the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's standard caging requirements for the animals you plan to possess?
11. What are the additional safety requirements you must meet to maintain the animals as personal pets?
12. What is the name of the veterinarian you intend to use for the health care of your animals?
13. What is the address and telephone number of the closest office of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission office that you can contact regarding the lawful keeping of your animals?
14. What is the name, address and license number (if in Florida) of the source of your wildlife? (It is unlawful to purchase wildlife from an unpermitted entity in Florida) [You must have documentation of the source and supplier of your animals]
15. If your animals escape from their cage, enclosure, tether, or leash, are you required to report the incident to the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission?
16. If your animals bite or scratch an individual, are you required to report the incident to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission?
 
I applaud the laws in Florida. However, I don't feel the lawmakers in michigan would be so smart as to limit the KINDS of snakes a person could own without a permit. I'm very afraid of what this incident may do to us corn owners up north.
 
snakemom1961 said:
I saw nothing posted that made it look like the cop shot it to "put it out of it's misery" It sounded to me like the cop thought it was going to eat him and he shot it to avoid being snack. After all this snake supposedly lived through being run over multiple times. Must have been a cyborg snake who even though it was only 6' long was able to attack a man in a truck, almost kill him and the cop was just doing his duty and saving the community from this vicious BEAST....:realhot:
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In reality, you could make a complaint to the state police on this article and find that this man used cruel and un safe procedures per this article. If enough animal lovers in Michigan make a noise on this then something would be done. This was pure animal cruelty, why wasn't animal control called in to deal with the snake? Why did the officer needed to present the animal like it was a big game kill? Actually if out of state people called or contacted the Michigan State police about this, it would make a bigger impact as well since this is being passed around the Net.
 
I was simply infringe that such was the cop's reasoning in this matter. After all, if you arrived on a scene to find a largely immobile but hostile (IE, mouth open, attempting to strike) hostile reptile, which had been run over several times already...wouldn't you assume it couldn't be saved, and the best thing to do in the interest of public safety would be to put it down immediately?

I don't particularly see anything wrong with the actions of the officer. The animal was a danger to anyone trying to approach it, he was not a herpetologist and did not know the extent of the injuries, so he simply put it down. I DO see something wrong with the actions of the jerk who ran it over with his truck multiple times.
 
Man, these always put me in a bad way.....

having worn a badge....

I don't begrudge people for killing snakes anymore, they still hold a fear and dislike by the vast majority of people. I try to educate people once they have killed a snake (we all should do this). Then my phone number for next time.


LEO are and always will be damned if ya do and damned if ya don't. I've learned to live my life by that now. An officer, who knows nothing about snakes, arrives on the scene to find a good size snake striking at whatever moves. He shoots and is a hero to some. He's damned by herpers.
Lets say he doesn't and the snake crawls off and eats a dog or bites a small child. He's damned by everyone else.
No doubt this snake was doomed after being run over multiple times. He, not knowing, did euthanize the snake.
Does he have small man syndrome...maybe...I don't know the man.

Thanks norm for finally pointing out it was a Boa.
 
LBoz said:
what's a nickname for Richard? (No offense to anyone named Richard on the board, tho!!
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My Dad's name is Richard, and let me tell you what, he's very proud that he's a Big Dick. He even has several T-shirts proclaiming it! :D

Cflaguy said:
I don't begrudge people for killing snakes anymore, they still hold a fear and dislike by the vast majority of people. I try to educate people once they have killed a snake (we all should do this). Then my phone number for next time.

LEO are and always will be damned if ya do and damned if ya don't. I've learned to live my life by that now. An officer, who knows nothing about snakes, arrives on the scene to find a good size snake striking at whatever moves. He shoots and is a hero to some. He's damned by herpers.
Lets say he doesn't and the snake crawls off and eats a dog or bites a small child. He's damned by everyone else.
No doubt this snake was doomed after being run over multiple times. He, not knowing, did euthanize the snake.
Does he have small man syndrome...maybe...I don't know the man.
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I was going to ad very similar words to the discussion once I got home from work . . . now I don't have to! :cheers: It's a tragic situation any way you look at it. We have to be careful when judging others when dealing with herps. The average "citizen" is afraid of them plain and simple. Overcoming "irrational" fears is tough to do. :shrugs:

D80
 
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