There is no excuse for an experienced keeper to get bitten by their venomous snake

[Tatelina]

Experienced keepers getting bitten by elapids...

After reading someone say that in a thread a while back...I've been thinking.
I know accidents happen, and you can never be too careful.
Wondering what people's thoughts are.

 

[Colin]

There is no excuse for an experienced keeper to get bitten by their venomous snake

sounds good in theory but even the best and most experienced keepers can sometimes have accidents.

The aim of every keeper. experienced and in-experienced is to never get bitten by their venomous snakes, but unfortunately sometimes situations occur where accidents do happen. But with careful handling hopefully bites from venomous snakes can be kept at the barest minimum.

 

[Jonno from ERD]

G'day,

The fact is that every single venomous snake bite that occurs in a captive situation is avoidable. With the correct handling techniques, sound knowledge of the species and a safe handling environment, the risk of a bite is all but elimated. Unfortunately, there is a lot of venomous keepers who lack all of the above.

Cheers

Jonno

 

[dickyknee]

You keep snakes, you will get bitten .... might take a long time but one day you will get bitten.... IMO
I think after a certain amount of time you MAY become complacent , and lose that fear / respect you had when you first got the snake .....
I do not keep vens , but i know when i do get bitten by any of my snakes its 99% my own fault and next time i go to that cage i am much more aware of that snake ...

 

[Miss B]

I'm in the 'accidents happen' camp.

I don't think any amount of experience can keep you 100% safe from accidents, and not just with venemous snakes either. Any high-risk job or hobby brings with it a certain amount of risk.

 

[salebrosus]

Accidents will always happen. I never think less of a keeper who gets tagged by an elapid. I always think if you keep elapids it's not a matter of if you have been bitten but when.

Simone.

 

[Surfcop24]

Have to say... ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN.......

Look at Steve Irwin.... Peter Brock..... Colin Macrae...... Mark Porter....

All but Colin died while doing their own profession.......

 

[m.punja]

I did disagree, but now that I think of it, I am leaning more toward agreeing. Although bites do occure it is normally avoidable. I'd like to hear some stories of people who have been biten that think it was unavoidable. The question isn't do accidents happen, it's should they have happened. I too wouldn't blame or think any less of a keeper for getting tagged.

 

[caustichumor]

No one sets out to get tagged, and snakes don't always follow the rules, however if handled correctly with full attention to the procedures and safety as paramount you should never need that trip to the hospital, I was watching the "Snake Buster" on the Animal Channel the other day and one of the keepers at the Billabong Sanctuary (Wildlife Park In Townsville) got tagged on the lower thigh by a Coastal Taipan, all it takes is a momentary lapse in concentration to ruin your day.

 

[Colin]

. Although bites do occure it is normally avoidable. I'd like to hear some stories of people who have been biten that think it was unavoidable. The question isn't do accidents happen, it's should they have happened. .

yes i have to agree. probably all (most) captive bites from vens could (should) have been avoided, but were all human and sometimes make mistakes and errors of judgement.

It's always easier to look back on a siuation and say I shouldn't have done this or should have done that etc.. but at the time sometimes human error creeps in and accidents happen. Hopefully people learn from their mistakes so it never happens again.

I have kept elapids years ago but (luckily) never got tagged by any

 

[natrix]

Could be excuses , such as-- 'I was hand feeding my Tiger snake a mouse' , like a guy who posted pics not long ago doing exactly that.
So there are excuses , but none that free the bitten handler of the resonsibility for the consequences i reckon.
Though now i've thought a legit 'excuse' could be that the handler had a sudden asthma attack
or fainted , or a Bee suddenly went up their nose while they were handling an elapid & it bit them in the confusion.

 

[-Peter]

All bites from captive animals are avoidable. Its just what degree of responsibility you are willing to apportion and what risks you feel are acceptable.
If a bite is inevitable then you need to re assess how you deal with your animals and make it not so.
Most incidents that we label accidents are in fact the results of mistakes or lapses in judgement.

 

[cris]

Steve Irwin thrived on taking stupid risks, it was just a matter of time IMO.

I completely agree with Jonno. While ppl will always have excuses, if its a captive snake that bites you its your fault end of story. With the exception of freak medical conditions(stroke, heart attack etc.) or maybe a natural disaster. If you are likely to get a momentary lapse in concentration you obviously shouldnt be handling them.

In saying that though ppl make stupid mistakes, i make them all the time :lol:
I think alot of the time it would result from complacency and ppl being silly enough to "trust" a snake.

 

[m.punja]

Yeah, I know. I keep a few elapids myself and havn't been evenomated. I guess the fact is as you say, we are only human and no one is perfect.

 

[m.punja]

Steve Irwin thrived on taking stupid risks, it was just a matter of time IMO.
quote]


I thought I was the only one that thought this. Nice to know I'm not alone

 

[voodoo]

I keep around a dozen elapids in my collection, most of them are as placid as a show python, but I allways take extra care when handling them. You dont really know what the snake is thinking/feeling so it always pays to be careful. Those who push it will get bitten.
As a snake catcher also, I have been tagged by an Eastern Brown whilst on a call out. Trust me it is the worst feeling I had ever felt. Fortunatly for me the snake did not inject venom. I look at that experience as a wake up call and know I am always extra careful whenever im handling an elapid. Remember you only need one bite to kill you.

 

[spilota_variegata]

Whenever there is a human factor involved, there will be accidents. We as humans are not perfect. It would be interesting to see how many "experienced herps" have been bitten by vens. I'm talking about the people I truly respect and admire - the guys I wanted to be when I grew up. Steve Irwin was someone I truly admired, but as some have already mentioned, it was just a matter of time. He took risks - mostly calculated - but with risk comes danger. He openly stated on more than one occassion that he would probably die doing what he loved doing most

The only way you're not going to get bitten is to wear a snake proof suit. Even then, the snake will probably swing around and bite you somewhere where noone is going to suck the poison out

 

[snakesrule]

G'day,

The fact is that every single venomous snake bite that occurs in a captive situation is avoidable. With the correct handling techniques, sound knowledge of the species and a safe handling environment, the risk of a bite is all but elimated. Unfortunately, there is a lot of venomous keepers who lack all of the above.

Cheers

Jonno

While nobody intentions are to be tagged by a an elapid or by any snake.
The fact is we are only human and no matter what species we are whether human, other mammals, fish,reptilies, birds or whatever.
The fact is we all make silly mistakes from time to time but then maybe were not as perfect as you Jonno.

 

[-Peter]

While nobody intentions are to be tagged by a an elapid or by any snake.
The fact is we are only human and no matter what species we are whether human, other mammals, fish,reptilies, birds or whatever.
The fact is we all make silly mistakes from time to time but then maybe were not as perfect as you Jonno.

Thats the point, its a mistake, not an accident and with careful planning and procedures you an eliminate the risk.

 

[sockbat]

Have to say... ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN.......

Look at Steve Irwin.... Peter Brock..... Colin Macrae...... Mark Porter....

All but Colin died while doing their own profession.......

Id have to agree.