Just another reptile in the news. At least they didn't kill the snake, but it does make me wonder if it hadn't been an 'expensive' snake how things may have turned out.

Cop battles python to save pet store owner - Animal weirdness - MSNBC.com

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Im glad they did'nt kill it also, I'm sure it would not of ended the same, but on that note, a 12' burm, expensive?, Not really a snake i'd expect to bring in a whole lot of money, i've seen them up for adoption rather commonly, and people are always trying to get rid of big burms, i've seen albino burms near that size for less then $200.
In reality, a 12' snake should probaly not be handled alone, granted, i'm one to talk, i've done it, but the owner was still within earshot if there were any problems.
And also, I did not think a 12' burm would be capable of eating a adult human.

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wow is all I can say if I was that customer I woulda ran

Makes you wonder why it latched onto her, did she smell like food? I dont know if I would call him a hero when he originally wanted to stab the snake...

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Well, lets be honest, If you came across a snake attacking a person, and you were a cop?

His job was to make sure she was okay, i'm glad the snake was not harmed, but if he had been forced to kill the snake, it would have been hard to blame him, to be honest, the woman who was bit is the only person I can blame for any of this, she made a mistake, you don't take chances with a snake this size, well that and the media titling the story "Python tries to swallow owner".

As for why the snake did attack, i'd say a combination, between all the smells you get in the petstore(she could very well have smelled like a prey item), four people huddled around you, and the fact that Its a wild animal. Something you cant forget when dealing with these guys.
Or maybe it just really did'nt want to be messed with at the time.

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I totally agree, I am just saying there are other methods to get a snake off. I did find it commical that she stated she didnt want to be its next meal..and that I was expensive...Wonder if she was a newbie.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Whiskey works great to get them off.....

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In all fairness, even an experienced keeper can be caught off guard. All it takes is a moment of distraction and you are nailed!

Just my take from watching the video interviews...
She made the mistake of getting into the mindset that the snake was "very friendly" and had lowered her guard. This is the first point at which she got in trouble. Add to it she was talking to customers and not paying complete attention to what she was doing.
Never assume that a snake that size is anything but what it is ,...a large reptilian predator! You should always assume that a bite is a possiblity.
OR you WILL end up getting one!

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makes you also wonder if the snake had been fed enough. I would think it would have been rather hungry to go after something as large as a human.

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My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

Also, this is a petstore and although this lady seemed very nice it's a possibility that she wasn't fully carring for the snake. It's also a possibility that the snake wasn't handled a whole lot as a young snake.

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