Exotic Incident #115

Incident Date:
10/13/1996
Location:
Massapequa, NY - USA
Facility Name:
Facility Type:
Exotic Pet (E)
Incident Category:
Escape/Attack resulting in human injury (HI)
Species:
Reptiles
Animal:
Viper
Animal disposition:
Removed/Re-housed

Summary:

A 50-year-old man who secretly kept 12 “pet” snakes at his home was bitten by a 1-ft-long poisonous viper on his left index finger while milking it for venom. The man was rushed to the hospital for antivenin. The police confiscated all 12 snakes (8 rattlesnakes, 2 African puff adders, an African rhinoceros viper, and another snake unidentified) and were attempting to relocate them to the Bronx Zoo.

Action take by Born Free USA:

Notes: