Clay Davenport
Cerebral Nomad
A 12-year-old boy received a rude awakening early Monday when he was bitten by a ball python that was clinging to his arm inside his bed.
Michael Rodriguez bolted upright to find a 4-foot ball python hanging on his lower right arm about 5:55 a.m. Monday. He shook his arm, flinging the snake to the carpet, and ran to his parents' bedroom to tell them what happened.
Michael, the oldest of four children in the house, was treated at his doctor's office Monday and returned to Rio Vista Junior High on Tuesday morning with quite a story to tell.
"They don't believe it at first," Michael said. "Everybody was just creeped out about it."
"I didn't cry, and then I walked to my parents' room," Michael said Tuesday, still displaying bite marks on the side of his right hand.
"We thought he was dreaming, but he was holding his hand and it was bleeding," said his father, Cedric Esqueda, recalling the moment when Michael awakened him. "It was a pretty good bite, and I think when he threw it from his arm it made the bite worse."
Cedric Esqueda found the snake hidden halfway under a dresser. He removed Michael's younger brother, Adam Ortega, from the top of the bunk bed and stuffed towels under the door to prevent the snake from escaping.
Animal control officers were called and took the python to the Central California Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
To excuse Michael from school, his mother, Christina Esqueda, e-mailed an explanation of the incident with a photo of the snake as an attachment.
"It bled a lot and swelled up Monday," she said.
Michael also received a tetanus shot.
Twelve-year-old Michael Rodriguez of Fresno was awakened early Monday by the bite of a python snake that he found clinging to his arm inside his bed. Michael's brother, Adam Ortega, 9, was asleep on the top bunk.
The family moved into their new northwest Fresno home two weeks ago from the Tower District and does not own the snake.
"We have no idea where it came from," said Christina Esqueda.
Cedric Esqueda theorized that it may have entered the home through a screen door with a small gap along the bottom. The boys' room was the first one the snake found, he said.
Neighbors said they did not own the snake and knew nobody in the area who did. The family's landlord also said she was unaware of anyone owning a snake who previously lived in the home, which is in a newer subdivision near Polk and Bullard avenues.
Ball pythons are not venomous and are generally known to be gentle.
Michael thinks he may have rolled on the snake in his sleep, provoking the bite.
The SPCA has placed the snake under quarantine. The animal could be adopted or euthanized.
Steve Goode, office manager for the SPCA shelter, said the snake will be held for five days, possibly 10 days, because it's an exotic pet.
If an owner does not come forward, he said, the SPCA will test the snake's temperament to observe its aggressiveness. If the snake is found not to be aggressive, it can be adopted.
Cedric Esqueda said his family hopes the snake is not euthanized and said he has a friend who owns reptiles who may be interested in acquiring it.
"At first, we were scared," he said. "Now, we feel bad because it's not the snake's fault and the kids are kind of worried about it."
Added Michael: "It would be nice to know it's not dead."
Despite the bite, Michael said he likes snakes, but admitted having trouble sleeping Monday night, his mother said.
"I kind of think another snake is going to come back again," Michael said.
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Michael Rodriguez bolted upright to find a 4-foot ball python hanging on his lower right arm about 5:55 a.m. Monday. He shook his arm, flinging the snake to the carpet, and ran to his parents' bedroom to tell them what happened.
Michael, the oldest of four children in the house, was treated at his doctor's office Monday and returned to Rio Vista Junior High on Tuesday morning with quite a story to tell.
"They don't believe it at first," Michael said. "Everybody was just creeped out about it."
"I didn't cry, and then I walked to my parents' room," Michael said Tuesday, still displaying bite marks on the side of his right hand.
"We thought he was dreaming, but he was holding his hand and it was bleeding," said his father, Cedric Esqueda, recalling the moment when Michael awakened him. "It was a pretty good bite, and I think when he threw it from his arm it made the bite worse."
Cedric Esqueda found the snake hidden halfway under a dresser. He removed Michael's younger brother, Adam Ortega, from the top of the bunk bed and stuffed towels under the door to prevent the snake from escaping.
Animal control officers were called and took the python to the Central California Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
To excuse Michael from school, his mother, Christina Esqueda, e-mailed an explanation of the incident with a photo of the snake as an attachment.
"It bled a lot and swelled up Monday," she said.
Michael also received a tetanus shot.
Twelve-year-old Michael Rodriguez of Fresno was awakened early Monday by the bite of a python snake that he found clinging to his arm inside his bed. Michael's brother, Adam Ortega, 9, was asleep on the top bunk.
The family moved into their new northwest Fresno home two weeks ago from the Tower District and does not own the snake.
"We have no idea where it came from," said Christina Esqueda.
Cedric Esqueda theorized that it may have entered the home through a screen door with a small gap along the bottom. The boys' room was the first one the snake found, he said.
Neighbors said they did not own the snake and knew nobody in the area who did. The family's landlord also said she was unaware of anyone owning a snake who previously lived in the home, which is in a newer subdivision near Polk and Bullard avenues.
Ball pythons are not venomous and are generally known to be gentle.
Michael thinks he may have rolled on the snake in his sleep, provoking the bite.
The SPCA has placed the snake under quarantine. The animal could be adopted or euthanized.
Steve Goode, office manager for the SPCA shelter, said the snake will be held for five days, possibly 10 days, because it's an exotic pet.
If an owner does not come forward, he said, the SPCA will test the snake's temperament to observe its aggressiveness. If the snake is found not to be aggressive, it can be adopted.
Cedric Esqueda said his family hopes the snake is not euthanized and said he has a friend who owns reptiles who may be interested in acquiring it.
"At first, we were scared," he said. "Now, we feel bad because it's not the snake's fault and the kids are kind of worried about it."
Added Michael: "It would be nice to know it's not dead."
Despite the bite, Michael said he likes snakes, but admitted having trouble sleeping Monday night, his mother said.
"I kind of think another snake is going to come back again," Michael said.
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