This ball python attack just sounds unlikely

I have some reservations about the accuracy of the article as well, but based on some of my experiences it is actually not out of the question.

True a 2 foot ball python would not view a one year old child as a potential meal, but the fact is some snakes as individuals act differently when feeding. Some might call it overly optimistic, and some might just consider it one of the snakes that are at the lower end of the reptilian intelligence scale.

It's quite possible that the snake viewed the big toe, or even the foot of the baby as a potential meal, having no understanding if you will that it was attached to the rest of the child.

Anyone who has kept hognose snakes to any degree has probably had one begin the attempt at engulfing their thumb. I've had that occur numerous times, even with hatchlings which couldn't swallow the thumb if they tried let alone the rest of the body attached to it.

Likewise many kingsnakes are known to give what I call exploratory bites. No strike is involved but they push their nose into some part of your body, often the forearm because of the way they are held, then just open their mouths and bite down to see if it's edible.
I've been bitten many many times by these exploratory bites that come from nowhere while you're holding a snake and talking to someone not noticing that it's eying a piece of your flesh.

Many snakes will attempt to feed on unmoving prey without using a strike at all. Just approach and engulf. Most keepers don't witness this often since even if they feed thawed prey they do so from tongs, which still elicits the strike.
I can see how the foot of a sleeping baby could fall into that category.

Speaking for myself, I agree with Willow. The snake was wrapped harmlessly around a warm foot. I'd be pretty excited at the arrival of a free ball python.
BUT...
If I knew nothing about reptiles, was afraid of snakes (as most people are), and woke to find one wrapped around my baby, I guess I can see where it would freak the parents out a bit. My mother would've had a heart attack.
I chalk it up to a total accident that will be way overplayed by the media.

Noelle

So, today the headline says the baby was "moments away from death", as evidenced from that loser couple whose son was strangled by a burm in Florida, after they used a blanket as a cage cover, if I remember correctly. Two very different animals, but now the media show begins...

Noelle

AOL is my homepage, upon turning the computer on today I see the headline "Deadly Discovery Made in Crib: Devin Winans went to check on his 1-year-old William in the middle of the night -- and he found his son moments away from death."
The article never describes what a "ball python" is (emphasis on the python there, everyone's doing it) or how big it was, but it does reference the tragic incident in 2009 with that abused burm. The people in the comment section raging about how "dangerous animals" should be made illegal and how snakes can never be pets show how well this is going over.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...6pLid%3D176704

The neighbor's due to appear in court and the videos say that the whole ordeal has made the family move out of their apartment. "It's just too scary."
There's even an article on some UK news site. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-EAT-foot.html

Another case of the irresponsible making it difficult for everyone else. I realize escapes occur and that mistakes happen but there is absolutely no excuse for your pet, I don't care what it is, to be in your neighbors apartment uninvited, ever. I see comments (maybe not here but on other sites) like "it was only a ball python" and my response is who cares. I don't care if it is a red belly snake. If it is yours it does not belong in my apartment. I think I read somewhere where the owner was given a citation but it didn't say if the snake was taken away. I would not blame the father one bit if he would have insisted it be removed and I would support the decision to remove it.

I doubt the child was in any real danger but that is not the point. It sounds like the father was not a snake person and I can't blame him for his reaction. Had he chopped the snake up everyone here would be vilifying him but in my opinion he would have been more than justified. Hopefully both parties can look upon this as a learning experience. The snake owner need to learn that he has to be more responsible for sure but hopefully the father and the rest of the family can take this time to actually learn about the snakes and realize that most snakes do not present a danger. Although, had it been a 7 foot boa or a 15 foot burm, I'm not sure that would be possible.

As far as the media goes it's a lost cause. Even if both parties get over it the media will milk it for all its worth. As far as they are concerned we might as well be dealing with the snake from the movie "Anaconda"

Originally Posted by rcarichter

Speaking for myself, I agree with Willow. The snake was wrapped harmlessly around a warm foot. I'd be pretty excited at the arrival of a free ball python.
BUT...
If I knew nothing about reptiles, was afraid of snakes (as most people are), and woke to find one wrapped around my baby, I guess I can see where it would freak the parents out a bit. My mother would've had a heart attack.
I chalk it up to a total accident that will be way overplayed by the media.

Noelle

It's not about agreeing or not, this isn't an opinion on what might happen. Something happened, and only the people who saw it have any say it what took place. So unless you were there you have no clue, like the rest of us, on what happened.

I'm not giving an opinion regarding what happened. A small python escaped, ended up in the couple's apartment, and they found it wrapped around their sleeping baby's foot. I'm speculating, as we all are, as to why. Perhaps the snake was 'attacking', as the article said. Although, like yourself, I'm a parent, and I am skeptical that the baby would remain asleep throughout the attack. Maybe, maybe not.
It is, of course, inexcusable that anyone's snake would be in a baby's crib. (I was being sarcastic when I said I'd be happy for the free python). But I'm not overjoyed about the media stating that the baby was moments from death. Perhaps he was, but tell us why. Not because a small python was wrapped around his foot. I'm not blaming the media for the incident, but we're walking a tightrope already as reptile owners, and sensationalizing the danger doesn't help.

Noelle

now it's a 'featured' story on yahoo 'odd news' with a video:
http://news.yahoo.com/video/oddnews-...-29927058.html
you can see the bite on his toes

Originally Posted by garweft

It was 100% feeding response.

I'm sure most are not going to believe it because they simply don't want to. I wouldn't have if I wouldn't have seen it. But the way an adult cornsnake keys in on potential prey is way different than how it reacts to anything else.

Or defensive bites from being kicked by a baby...

I agree,I can't get it tho people's head that any of my snake are not able to seriously hurt any one, expectually a 2 ft python,dumb parents I guess,I see how they would freak out being there kid and all I love the way it scratch him too,wish people knew wtf they wer talking ab b4 they say $hit like that.some people kill me with the ignorance.