A man in Papillion, Nebraska was killed by his pet red tailed boa constrictor.
He was showing it to a friend when it started hissing and he quickly tried to put it away. Before he could get it off of his shoulders the snake began wrapping around and squeezing. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
His sister said that the snake had bitten him not long ago and the family urged him just earlier in the week to get rid of it.
In Omaha, Nebraska constrictors are only to be 8′ in length or less. Because the man lived in Papillion where there are no length limits his pet snake was 9′ long and about 25 pounds.
A snake expert was on tv stating that constrictors are not known as dangerous snakes as they are not poisonous and it is extremely uncommon for them to kill people. They also said that most likely the snake became scared or confused is the only reason it started wrapping around and squeezing.
Another person stated that constrictors can feel the blood pushing through the veins and the heart beat of whatever it is hold and will continue to hold on until the heart stops beating. Once the heart stops beating the snake then slowly starts to relax.
There were different reports as to how many constrictor deaths occur in the USA. But, all reports, that I found did agree that this is the 1st red tailed boa to kill a person here in the United States. They did say that at least 13 people have been killed in the US by pet pythons since 1980.
The snake is now at the Nebraska Humane Society. It will be held there until they can find a zoo or sanctuary for the animal.
You can see video of the snake at Humane Society: Boa Constrictor Attack Is Nation’s 1st
Some states are pushing hard to ban constrictors from being brought in. In December I wrote about Bill to Ban Constrictors in Florida. Florida has had a huge problem with constrictors that people have brought in and then turned loose once they either become bored or the snake gets to big. Although this years cold winter is thought to have killed off many of the constrictors living wild in Florida.
I think that owning one of these snakes should be more regulated. At least some way so the humane society will know if you still have the snake, have lost it, turned it loose, or sold it. Not sure if a snake could be ID chipped like a cat or dog. They could also require licensing like they do for dogs and cats. I personally wouldn’t want to live some place like an apartment building with a snake constrictor or poisonous. Guess I don’t trust owners to take all the proper precautions to keep it contained.
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