weird question

[soda]

Are Columbian boas capable of killing humans. Are there any cases where this has happened?

Sorry for the mobid question---I just want to get all the facts....

soda

[Gary D.]

Technically yes, common boas are more than capable of killing a human. An 8'+ boa is a powerful animal. But there is no record of a Boa constrictor killing a person by constriction.

There was an account a number of years back where one got out of it's enclosure and sufficated a sleeping child by lying on it (much as the old cat killing babies wives tales). So there is a fatality attributed to a common boa, but not in the manner you inquired. There is now a fatality attributed to a hamster too for what it's worth.

GD

[LdyDrgn]

Basically you NEVER want to allow an adult boa, or even a large subadult, around your neck. I always toss the front of the body over one shoulder and wrap the rest around my waist. This seems to be comfortable for them and provide them with enough support.

[MouseKilla]

I'm pretty sure that I have read of 2 or 3 cases of keepers being killed by large boas but I don't know how reliable those stories were, you'll certainly hear about far more deaths from dogs or farm animals. Relative to many animals that most of us would approach fearlessly or leave a toddler alone with a boa is pretty small threat.

I've seen a debate on this site that raged on for many pages about whether it's a good idea to let the neighbor's kid hold a year old ball python, a creature that would likely lose in a fair fight with an adult hamster and would be no match at all for the family cat. It seems to me that it's not just the public that has an exaggerated impression of the threat posed by non-venomous snakes but many keepers do too.

As a rule a snake will not bite (let alone try to kill you!) unless A) you smell like food or B) it feels threatened. If the snake doesn't want to be touched they will let you know long before they bite you, they don't just randomly attack. For that reason putting a boa over your shoulders isn't really that dangerous at all if you haven't been shampooing with rat urine and the snake isn't showing signs of aggression or distress, the snake isn't going to just decide to choke you to death out of the blue.

Approaching an adult boa the way you would a 90 lb dog is probably overkill really, the dog is far more likely to cause serious injury from a single bite but treating the snake like a captive tiger or grizzly bear is really over the top. I'm not saying there is zero danger, just that we don't need to make it out to be more than it is.

If you keep boas long enough though, you're likely to make a dumb mistake eventually and take a bite (probably on the hand or arm) and it will likely scare the crap out of you but when it's over you will be glad the snake bit you and not the cat.

[MouseKilla]

I posted these a while back after I was dumb enough to forget about the tub of rats I was thawing and decided to take one of the boas out to show off to a friend that came by. DUH! lol!

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/2511SFE2.jpg http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/2511SFE3.jpg http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/2511SFE1.jpg

The boa that gave me that was a sub-adult male of about 5 feet or so. I'm glad I took the pics because I didn't even get a cool looking scar out of the deal. lol! I've actually been injured much worse playing with a kitten.

[Linds]

Originally posted by MouseKilla
...I don't know how reliable those stories were, you'll certainly hear about far more deaths from dogs or farm animals.

Another thing to note, while if a dog wanted to kill someone, it would, while fatalities related to snakes are <b>completely</b> preventable.

Boas are incredibly strong animals. They are all too often underestimated. However, as long as safe handling procedures are adhered to, there are no life-threatening risks imposed.

[Artemis]

Mousekilla- Im curious about how the debate about letting the neighbors kids hold the BP turned out. I wouldnt even begin to think of what to search for to find that thread. What was the general consensus?

Artemis

[MouseKilla]

As I recall it was never agreed by all what to do about it but I think the guy ended up deciding it was too "risky" for him. I could be wrong about that, it was a while back, but either way it's his choice to make.

There were some that thought he could be sued if the snake bit the kid. My opinion was that most BPs just plain don't bite defensively and given the size of the snake in question, could not have caused any significant harm. Many people don't understand that you need to prove harm or loss to get any money out of suing someone. I wonder what kind of compensation you get for injuries that at worst would require a band-aid and some polysporin? lol! Anyway...

It always amazes me to see people that keep snakes and are familiar with them treating snakes like you would expect someone's superstitious grandmother to. It's bizzarre considering that besides venomous species and very large boids, snakes are completely incapable of hurting anyone. And when it comes to those snakes that do have the physical capability of harming a person in a serious way it is, as Linds pointed out, ALWAYS avoidable in captive situations. In other words, if you get bitten it's not because snakes are dangerous, it's because you have done something stupid (as I did!).

[LdyDrgn]

I knew a ball python that liked to try to take your face off, LOL There are those, albeit few and far between, that will bite in defense. Each snake is different.

[soda]

I think all snakes will strike/bite in defense, it's only natural.