Man Dies After Being Bitten By Pet Snake

[marisa]

Man Dies After Being Bitten By Pet Snake

A Dayton, Ohio, firefighter died Monday afternoon after his venomous pet snake bit him.
Michael Peterman, 48, was handling a Central African Rhinoceros Viper in his home in the suburb of Oakwood when it bit him Sunday night.

Other snake collectors in the area said Peterman "knew his snakes" and even used special tongs to feed it.

Peterman was flown to University hospital around noon Monday. He died later in the afternoon.

Anti-venom was flown to the hospital from Miami, Florida, but it did not save the man's life.

The snake, also known as the river jack, has a triangle-shaped head and can become four feet long.


http://www.wcpo.com/news/2003/local/08/04/snake.html

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Notice the part of this guy who says "He even used special tongs to feed it" I don't know this guy but that is a kind of nutty statement.

Marisa

[Zoe]

Yeah, I thought that when I read that too! Do they mean special tongs as opposed to normal tongs, or that he used tongs at all? Stupid, if he thinks he knows what he is doing by using tongs to feed, i daresay he deserved it!

Zoe

[Bryce Masuk]

Tongs that are normal to us = special tongs to the idiots at any newspaper

[Mustangrde1]

The key word here is "HANDLING",as for the use of "special tongs".His friend may have been reffering to him using 24 inch or larger tongs for feeding thoses would be called special by many people.It is a shame he died however what the press actually post and what the truth really is are two completely diffrent things.I know of a certain person who was bitten and the press reported there were frantic calls to 911.I know for a fact no call ever went out nor was there any Panic involved.To be Honest it was a very calm and very direct . So do not believe what the press reports.I would love to know the truth though. Was he freehandling , was he using tools did the snake manage a bite that was unexpected etc.etc.etc.

[Jeremy]

How the heck can you guys make statements like that!!! A man just died!! Everything I have heard leads me to belive he was a very responsible keeper who paid the ultimate price for his passion. This is no jokeing matter and that freaken pisses me off that you guys can sit there and bad mouth over somthing like that.

Hell, even if he did free handle, taht is no way to act about somones death.

Go over to KS with the rest of the scum.

Thats just wrong!

R.I.P my fellow hot herp lover.

Saddened,
Jeremy

P.S Mustangrde1, I exculde you from the above statements.

[Jeremy]

P.S Sorry Marisa, you too. Though I dont think the tong statement was that weird, I do appreciate that you havent said" He deserved it". No one deserves death except my mortal enemy and Bin laden(includeing fallowers).

Jeremy

[Jeremy]

Bryce too. Sorry no coffee yet and alot of emotions.

[Gregg M]

It is always a sad thing when someone dies from something they should have been able to recover from...... In one article I read that there was no AV to be found for this species anywhere in the country....... I wonder if they were looking for rhino viper AV that does not exist, when they should have been looking for South African polyent...... That would be a very unfortunate thing....... In my eyes only murderers and child molesters deserve to die, not reptile keepers...... Well let this be a reminder of how much respect we should all have for these reptiles and that keeping your own supply of AV WILL save your life...... My heart felt sympathies go out to Mr petermans family and friends......
Gregg

[Matt]

well said gregg....exactly the reason all non native venomous keepers should keep AV on hand......if not, at least have an informatyion folder about what AV to use and how to go about it. Im not sure if he had that information package or not, but if he didnt, having it might have saved his life.
I too am sympathetic to him and his family for this loss

[BWSmith]

Never forget that the press is against us. As venomous keepers (and exotic keepers in general), we are misunderstood by the general public. Hot keepers are portrayed and misfits and outcasts having deadly things as "pets" for no reason. "pets"............ "pets" ................. ACK! I won't even go into that one. But unless you are bitten while working at an institution, you will get no respect from the press and your story will be full of half truths and misleading information.

All of us as Hot Keepers take on the concequesces of our passion. We accept the possibility of what the result of a bite could be. Unfortunately, he payed the ultimate price. I won't get into the disprespect to him that has been shown. But ponder this. No matter what his handling or care or anything, the man was a Firefighter! He risked his life everyday to save the lives of strangers. That if nothing else deserves respect.

[unBOAlievable]

That post could easily have been one of us, none of us are above being bitten. True some are at greater risk than others but it can happen to us all just the same. I do not know anyone that has planned on getting bit. My heart goes out to his family.

I have also been known to use those stupid special 40" tongs for ones that only hit moving prey. I must be crazy for feeding dethawed:rolleyes:

[marisa]

Well for one of course it is sad that he died.

For two, the press may be against you wonderful hot keepers but hey, if they are watching you, WATCH THEM BACK! LOL. I always read all reptile news and I am usually intrigued by the hot snake news which is why I post it in here.

I do not keep hot snakes, I have never ever kept hot snakes. But if I did (maybe I am wrong here) I would certainly like to read reminders like this one now and again. Anyone can become comfortable or just simply make a mistake. Maybe this guys death will help one of you guys remember or keep on track when working with your hots. (Not like you dont already but accidents happen!)

I agree with BWSmith about the firefighter part, but I find it odd he didn't have AV on hand being trained in some medical care for emergency situations. Although maybe he did and couldn't get to it, we don't know.

Jeremy I don't believe anyone *Deserves* death unless they ask for it. In this case, I am sure this man DID make a mistake and it was accidental and probably not due to stupidity. But if it WAS due to stupidity, I am sorry but I wouldn't feel that bad hearing about it. People who take *unneeded* risks have to assume at some point they may die or they need to change their ways. If they still decide not to change their ways, then why should their stupidity be rewarded with my pity? But that is neither here nor there in this thread IMHO .....

But I fully agree, that in this case I DO feel sad he lost his life as he was obviously a upstanding member of his community and it was probably a mistake that could have happened to any of you.

Marisa

[BWSmith]

AV is hard to get as a private individual. I think that by the time they realize what AV they were supposed to use, it was too late. This is why I keep protocols for every hto snake I keep in an emergency kit along with everything I need to pretreat myself.

[Snakesafe]

Deepest respects go to him as a firefighter and a venomous keeper. Both instances take unique individuals. Both require the passion to do it. He was unique in that he did both. Any responsible venomous keeper has my respect, and dare I say the respect of every other responsible venomous keeper. (Notice I said responsible...) His mistake seems to be that he was human and humans are inately falible. We all make mistakes. Some are simply more costly than others. As stated earlier, this post could have been about any venomous keeper.

Maybe we should all take a second and learn from this tragedy.

[lordkovacs]

indeed... we should learn from all mistakes, not just tragedies. if we don't, then we are no better than before we read the post. I am not a hot keeper, however, I will apply what happened here to my every day life.

MIKE

[Zoe]

While like Marisa I don't believe anyone deserves to DIE, I do stand by what I said in that if he thinks feeding with tongs is something special to be doing with hots, then there was something seriously wrong in his keeping methods, and it does not make me feel that bad to hear about it. It was an accident waiting to happen - everyone should learn from it. Unforunately, though, he cannot.

Of course, as stated, the press is not the most accurate thing in the world. Mroe information is always appreciated.

And relax on the name calling. Just because I'm not crying after hearing about a 50 year old dying after being bit by a venomous snake he thought he was being carfeful by feeding with tongs, and was obviously a mess waiting to happen (excluding the possibility of misinformation, of course), I DONT think that gives you the right to me scum. <i>I'M</i> not the one wishing death on people, I'm just facing the fact that some people take stupid risks and will pay for them sooner or later.

Zoe

[Mustangrde1]

Zoe , ANYONE dealing with hots that is responcible knows the risk they take anytime they inneract with them.However saying he gets what he deserves is highly insulting and very imature.If he was using tongs and an accident happened its a shame and horrble thing for the gentlemans family.As none of us at the time of this posting knows the circumstances behind it other than what was reported to say he gets what he deserves is flat out wrong.He may have been taking every care and precaution possible and the snake pushed off from the back of its inclosure and made a longer then normal strike and bit him, then it would have been a freak accident .I can list numerous things that may have happened but i won't. I am sure if he died in the line of duty of his job you would be praising him for his life saving abilities and hard work.So please if you cant find it in yourself to show some respect do not post here, even in the most heated debates in this forum we all still try to show respect to one another.I personally find your comments Insulting , Demeaning and immature.You have no clue what happened to this gentleman.

[BWSmith]

if he thinks feeding with tongs is something special to be doing with hots, then there was something seriously wrong in his keeping methods
And you would do what? Dangle it with your fingers? Tong feeding is a widely accepted responsible venomous husbandry practice. These are not 6 inch hemos. I would tread lightly when you start debunking time tested methods as irresponsible. But i will keep looking out for when you post "Venomous Husbandry basics".






And if in some way you are referring to the word "special", keep in mind that was not said by him.

[unBOAlievable]

A man is dead, regardless how he died it is sad.

But aparently some people do not know what "special tongs" are so I will post a pick,

Tongs A are what I use for venomous they aren 40" long
Tongs B are what I use for non venomous

Regardless whether he was using tongs A or B he did not deserve to die.

[BWSmith]

Good illustration Anthony. Perhaps this little SNAFU is just differences in connotation.

[unBOAlievable]

Thanks B.W.,
Just wanted to make sure I was using the right tongs.

That was some mighty big words you used for such a little guy;)

[Gregg M]

LOL Brian..... Actually I believe Zoe read the post wrong....... The person that was talking about the man who died, said that he even used special tongs to feed his snake...... But I think we are all guilty at one point of jumping the gun when we have not fully read or understood something......

[marisa]

Yeah it was his buddy. That's the part I found humourous and why I shared it with you guys. Aside from the sadness of someones death can't you just see some friend who knows nothing of snakes thinking its "special" to feed with tongs.

LOL it just made me laugh. I don't know why.

Marisa

[Yness]

So in response to reading all of these posts I too am sorry to hear about this unfortunate event. My heart and thoughts go out to this man's family and friends. But a safety question arises, one that I feel would be an appropriate reaction to this event. I do not keep hot snakes but would be very interested to know where one would aquire antivenoms and bite protocol sheets. I think anyone who uses this websited could benefit from that knowledge so if you know I strongly encourage you to post it.

[SCReptiles]

I am sure this guy knew the risk involved when he decided to keep such a snake. If he is anything like the rest of us, he will admit it was his own fault and not the snakes. I met several hot keepers from OH at the venomous show I worded in VA back in June. I can’t say for sure if I knew this guy or not, but it’s always a shame to lose another hot keeper. We are a small enough group as it is. Zoe, I usually back you 100% and you know this, but on this matter you are out of your field. Venomous herpiculture is a whole new world. It’s more then keeping snakes, it is a life-style. Reserve your judgment until you make the switch to venomous. You will be more enlightened then. I can see why the man would say special tongs. He was speaking to the general public. If he had said only tongs, then it would give the illusion that the man was feeding a giant viper with salad bar forks.

[TheRedDragon]

Here here SCReptiles. Well said :thumbsup:

[Zoe]

Ahh yes, I did misunderstand the special tong part. I thought it was meaning that it was "special" to use tongs at all, as opposed to using special tongs.

Thanks for the pic!

[Delighted2b]

Assumptions are being made but the only person who knows what actually happened is the man that unfortunately took the ultimate price for loving his snakes. There is going to be enough uproar in the public about this that we as herp keepers shouldn't be fighting each other and assuming how this happened but should be saying R.I.P to our fellow herp keeper. I'm sure that this doesn't help the situation regarding the keeping of exotic pets. So, instead of nit picking the article and each other... we should learn, respect, and teach the public that "special tongs" can belong to a very experienced keeper.

Danielle

[lordkovacs]

that's right Danielle... nicely put.

[SCReptiles]

that's right Danielle... nicely put.

Lordkovac, have you ever disagreed with anyone? =)

[cobraman]

I just saw this thread, and was sickened by Zoe's remarks, but you all handled it better than I would have. I can not immagine making that kind of judement about someone that died from an accident of any type. Like Brian wrote, what would YOU have used to feed? I have 24 & 36 inch tongs that I use to feed hots, so I guess I am stupid and deserve to die also. I better just shut up and leave well enough alone.
Peace
Ray Hunter

[SCReptiles]

was sickened by Zoe's remarks, but you all handled it better than I would have.
There is no question Zoe made an offensive comment, but it was really out of character for her. I think she was under a false impression of this guy who died. She doesn’t strike me as being that malicious.

[Zoe]

Yes, as Greg and Chuck and I stated, I misunderstood much of the article. I do apologize if I offended anyone, but I was really under the impression that when they wrote "special tongs" they meant that it was special that he used tongs, and that by tongs they meant normal tongs. Like steak tongs. Which, you must admit, is not that special.
However, I obviously misunderstood what they meant, and they actually did mean "SPECIAL tongs" (as in that picture).
I thought this was a guy who freehandled (they said he was bitten while handling. Well the first thing that comes to mind for me is FREEhandling) his hots and fed them with steak tongs and thought that was being special. Okay? Do you all understand why I said that now?
Even under those impressions, it could still be considered distasteful. But, my views of death are obviously not the same as most. Mind you, had I understood from the beginning that he was a good hot keeper etc I obviously would have written something different.

Zoe

[cobraman]

Zoe, Thank you for clearing that up. I have read many of your posts, and that one seemed way out of charactor for you. We all make mistakes. Thanks again.
Peace,
Ray Hunter