Further Proof that dumb men get bit on the hand by venomous snakes

It was a small victory against statistical tyranny that he wasn't drunk, too.
B.O. "Buddy" Jones of Red River Parrish near Coushetta LA, died Tuesday December 21st. It was less than 12 hours since he had been bitten on the hand by his beloved canebrake rattlesnake. He had maintained a pair of these darling pets for over 9 years, and they were considered a novelty in the pawn shop where he maintained them. Apparently Buddy's family is from the wading end of the gene pool, as evidenced by the obvious mental handicap of any person who would attempt the feeding of a 9 year rattlesnake using his BARE HANDS.
I would like to officially nominate this genius for a Darwin Award, and thank him for removing himself from the Game of Life.
In all seriousness, this guy gives responsible herping a bad name.
I honestly think that guys who keep "hots" (that is, venomous reptiles) as a hobby are really stupid in the first place, and asking for trouble. (Notice that this post is sexist. That is because women are not testosterone-driven thrill seeking monkeys, on the whole, and I am unaware of any significant number of women who keep venomous animals for fun.)
The real trouble is this; These rednecks with cognitive deficiencies are giving ammunition to groups (see HSUS stance on reptile ownership) who want to ban reptile ownership, partially or completely using laws based on emotional reactions to the actions of idiots who deserved to die any way.
If you keep hots, and you think I am a terrible person for suggesting that you are less than intelligent, perhaps I should amend.
Intelligence is learning from your own mistakes.
Wisdom is learning from the mistakes of others.
It is unwise to keep venomous snakes for fun, particularly if you are not going to take the simple precautions of using protective equipment and procedures. I have no empathy for fools like Buddy Jones.
Here is an inspirational picture of a "minor" bite from a Great Basin Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis lutosis)
Aren't rattesnakes cool pets?
Just great, I am so impressed.

New York reptile owners are about to get screwed

If you live in New York, and you own a Boa Constrictor, you are about to become a criminal. A sweeping, and doubtlessly overreaching bill has passed in the Stat of New York which bans a number of admittedly dangerous animals from being kept as pets.
However, alongside Black Mambas, Polar bears, and Lions, are the entirety of FAMILY Boidae! Now you can't have a 14 inch Rubber Boa.
By the way, Bob Krantz education director of the Western New York Herpetological Society is not on your side. He said, "Not everybody should have a 15-foot boa constrictor." How many Boa constrictors have you seen that were 15 feet? Maybe one, if you were lucky. What about Children's Pythons? They don't get very big. BANNED! What about 4-5 foot Hog Island Boas? BANNED! Rosy Boas? BANNED! Spotted Pythons? BANNED Womas? BANNED! Blood Pythons, Ball Pythons? BANNED!


Not everybody should have sharp object, but we don't go banning them because a very small number of people are irresponsible.
Ban Motor vehicles, they're a grave threat to our populace!
I personally support regulation (not banning) of dangerously venomous animals, but banning FAMILY BOIDAE is absolutely draconian, ignorant, and possibly unconstitutional.
I am so pissed right now, I can hardly breathe, and I live in Idaho...

Rattlesnakes bite young drunk men.

This is an excellent article on the ecological importance of predation, from bears , to wolves, to rattlesnakes.
And statistically, it's true, 80% of all people bitten by rattlesnakes are intoxicated, and the majority are young men, who have been bitten on the hand.

Free Corn Snake!

Click link in the title of this post to win a free heterozygous for Lavender (and who knows what else) Corn Snake!
Put the words "Free CornSnake" in the Subject field.
Don't forget to include your name and email address.
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There is an amel het for lavender, and an anery het for lavender available to choose from. Both are 2004 females.
Drawing will take place on December 25th.