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Giant Python Bites Boy At Halloween Party
WFTV ^ | November 5, 2010

Posted on 11/07/2010 7:43:12 PM PST by nickcarraway

10-Year-Old Bit Multiple Times; Shirt Covered In Blood

A Halloween party took a horrifying turn in Utah last weekend when a giant python attacked a 10-year-old boy.

The 15-foot, 140-pound Burmese python and its handlers were hired for a Halloween celebration last Saturday at Cyprus Credit Union in West Jordan.

When Jaren Barker went to hold the snake, it turned on him and bit the boy multiple times.

"I didn't it even see it coming," he said. "It just bit me."

Jaren's parents said the boy's shirt was covered in blood, sending the other children into a panic of crying and screaming.

"It bit me two times," Jaren said. "It tried to bite me a third, but it fell."

The boy suffered bites to his chin, face and under his ear.

The snake was being monitored by a veterinarian.

"It was not trying to attack," said Shane Richens, owner of Scales and Tails. "It was some sort of a defensive mechanism, which is why we took it to the vet, to find out why she felt the need to defend itself. We think there's something wrong with her, something she's hurting from."

But Jaren's parents feel more needs to be done and believe Scales and Tails was negligent. The family never filed a police report and was debating whether to take legal action.

"I just want to make sure that the snake, that it never happens again to another kid," said Christian Martin, the boy's mother. "That they do safer shows. I mean, I was told they should have had an assistant helping with a snake that big."


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Pets/Animals; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: halloween; python; snake; utah
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To: nickcarraway
I think I saw this in the Far Side once.
21 posted on 11/07/2010 9:07:07 PM PST by KarlInOhio (Dems' response to 11/2: Do not go gentle into that new day,Rage,rage against the coming of the dawn!)
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To: KarlInOhio

Oh yeah, good point!


22 posted on 11/07/2010 9:16:03 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: KarlInOhio

You know this kid will be the most popular kid in school tomorrow!


23 posted on 11/07/2010 9:16:52 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears

“Are you really that stupid?”

You must be a pacifist. I served in a combat zone. You must have “served” in Kanada.


24 posted on 11/07/2010 9:42:10 PM PST by Rembrandt (.. AND the donkey you rode in on.)
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To: Husker24

“Snakes are fast, im sure they didnt have much time to draw up a plan.”

That sounds like the French military. The enemy is quick, let’s all drop our weapons and put our arms up.


25 posted on 11/07/2010 9:43:54 PM PST by Rembrandt (.. AND the donkey you rode in on.)
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To: ransomnote
Okay, here is a true story for you all. I have a friend that had a traveling snake show at fairs. They were all cobras and all were hot. Now this guy is the one that trains the trainers if you know what I mean.

While traveling in the midwest a few years back in his converted bus/museum, he stopped for gas. Now there was a small problem with the emergency brake and the bus began to roll after he got out.

The Bus began moving down the driveway and across the parking lot. It was dusk going to dark. As the bus moves by my friend and the gas station attendant, his four year old daughter waved and exclaimed "Hi daddy!" as the bus rolled by.

It rolled across the parking lot and stopped when it ran into a brick wall. My friend and the attendant ran to the bus. "Steve" grabbed his daughter and threw her to the attendant and then went into the bus and closed the door behind him.

You saw "Snakes on a Plane", this was snakes on a bus. Inside was North America's longest King Cobra that measured 18 feet. I was there when it arrived in Tucscon via airmail from Florida. A big mother.

But there was all those other cobras, an anaconda, and spiders! Big Goliath Bird Eaters and MIchael Jackson's 25 year old pet Tarantula. Now "Steve" had though ahead and had protection to keep customers from getting to the snakes. It was dark outside and darker inside the bus. Without a flashlight he began assessing the situation. Most everything held. The spiders where running around loose, that wasn't much of a problem, but soon he felt something slither between hie legs. It was the anaconda--big, black and deadly. Looking further he saw that the woodland cobra was out. That is the one that kills the handlers.

But it was not going to happen that day. The anaconda was coaxed back into its spot. The woodland cobra was between the first and second safety panels. Not a big thing, the safety procedures worked. Once it was secured, it was time to round up the spiders. Those were scooped back up and put in their boxes.

Wally the alligator was still asleep up on the dash and the long necked turtle was still in its tub, none the less for wear and tear.

The damage was minor to the bus--a fill up and back on the road. and that is the story of "Snakey Steve".

26 posted on 11/07/2010 10:31:45 PM PST by abigkahuna (screw em all)
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To: abigkahuna

Sounds much better than Snakes on a Plane!


27 posted on 11/07/2010 10:35:10 PM PST by ransomnote
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To: Rembrandt

“No, they should have taken some action instead of acting like a bunch of little twit persevero’s!”

Kids can’t cry when a snake starts biting and bloodying their friend?

If not, when can they cry? When to they have permission to be scared?

If this were a frat house party I’d be in agreement with you. We are talking about pre-pubescent children, here. Probably some were girls, too. They’re all supposed to be taking some sort of decisive action and having no fear?


28 posted on 11/07/2010 10:52:08 PM PST by Persevero (Homeschooling for Excellence since 1992)
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To: nickcarraway

29 posted on 11/08/2010 12:52:57 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
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To: Mopp4

As an owner of several snakes, I can tell you that IF that 15 foot Burm was interested in ‘attacking’, that boy would have been bitten only once, held, and the snake try to coil around him.

A snake that is just striking (especially a non-venomous) is just reacting in a defensive manner. It is a ‘leave me alone’ type of behavior, not a ‘I’m going to get you’ behavior.


30 posted on 11/08/2010 5:35:45 AM PST by RoadGumby (For God so loved the world)
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To: nickcarraway; Anoreth
The 15-foot, 140-pound Burmese python and its handlers were hired for a Halloween celebration last Saturday at Cyprus Credit Union in West Jordan.

Nothing this fun ever happens at my bank.

31 posted on 11/08/2010 5:44:10 AM PST by Tax-chick (The alligator ate my friend. He will eat your friend, too. Then he will eat Tom.)
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To: Persevero

“They’re all supposed to be taking some sort of decisive action and having no fear?”

Oh, I see, you’d prefer they line up to be eaten, each in turn, like little zombies. What a great plan!


32 posted on 11/08/2010 7:47:00 PM PST by Rembrandt (.. AND the donkey you rode in on.)
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To: Rembrandt

“Oh, I see, you’d prefer they line up to be eaten, each in turn, like little zombies. What a great plan!”

No, I’d like to see adults protect them.


33 posted on 11/08/2010 8:04:37 PM PST by Persevero (Homeschooling for Excellence since 1992)
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To: Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears

>>”...blame the snake for being defective.”

...classic case of “reptile dysfunction.”


34 posted on 11/09/2010 9:16:15 AM PST by DoorGunner ("Rom 11: until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so, all Israel will be saved")
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To: Mopp4

As an owner of 3 snakes (Ball python, Florida Kingsnake, and an Amel Cornsnake) and a roommate of a guy who owns a Burmese Python, I can tell you that her statements are correct. Burmese Pythons, as full-grown adults, are NOT known for aggressive behavior. They are actually regarded as great “lap-snakes” and make great pets IF raised correctly as a baby.

Now, in this particular case, the Burm was stressed and scared and wanted to be left alone and hide. What would you do if you were stressed and scared beyond belief? Strike out. The Burm was acting in accordance with its instincts. Same as a dog who is scared.

All the blame goes to the owners for having such a large, easily stressed snake out in front of kids. They should have known something like this was going to happen sooner or later.


35 posted on 11/10/2010 11:11:44 AM PST by Black_Shark
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To: Black_Shark
All the blame goes to the owners for having such a large, easily stressed snake out in front of kids

completely agree with that !

36 posted on 11/11/2010 5:11:15 AM PST by Mopp4
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To: Duke1954
Proably a Pit Snake.....

I once knew a snake that was SO poor...

How Poor Was HE???

So poor that he couldn't afford a pit to hiss in...

37 posted on 07/10/2015 12:22:26 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie
Did it take you almost 5 years to read the article...is that it... Or 5 years to come up with the joke? :)

reminds me of the Seinfeld episode with George and his "perfect" comeback line he waited to use.

Happy Friday!

38 posted on 07/10/2015 12:25:19 PM PDT by ZinGirl (kids in college....can't afford a tagline right now)
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To: ZinGirl

I was Google® ing for a Larson cartoon; dude with snake hanging off of nose; when I came across...


39 posted on 07/10/2015 12:54:30 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: ZinGirl

How did YOU see my reply since it went to the Duke?


40 posted on 07/10/2015 12:55:19 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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