Man bitten by rattler while shopping at Wal-Mart

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 9/30/2003 | Associated Press

[xrp]

BROWNWOOD, Texas -- Police say a man was bitten by a rattlesnake while shopping for shoes in a Wal-Mart store in Texas.

Douglas Hatchett of Brownwood was examing shoes on a rack when a rattlesnake concealed behind a shoebox bit him yesterday. The snake fell to the floor, where Hatchett stomped it to death.

Police, fire and emergency medical crews were called to the scene.

The 31-year-old shopper and the dead snake were hustled to Brownwood Regional Medical Center. There, the snake was confirmed as a rattler, and Hatchett was treated and released.

Wal-Mart officials say the matter's being investigated and they have no comment.

Brownwood is about 120 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

[bedolido]

the ol "Man bitten by rattlesnake while shopping at Walmart" ploy.

[AnAmericanMother]

Ha!

A friend of mine left a sign on the sliding glass door to his back deck:

"MR. PLUMBER. PLEASE DO NOT COME IN. THE SNAKES GOT OUT AGAIN!"

He didn't have a problem with burglars . . .

[2Jedismom]

Yeee-Haaw! Thank God I live in Texas, where such behavior is not only allowed, but expectet!

And is Lunch!

[Chad Fairbanks]

The shop I worked in was in a K-Mart, and part of my job duties was to catch snakes. Never had anyone bitten during my shifts. I enjoyed it, but then I'm weird so it's no surprise ;0)

[Squantos]

Went into a pier one store once with the wife who is phobic of snakes. I mean sh*t and go blind terror phobic. As we rounded a corner they had a stuffed cobra on the shelf. As she made eye contact with the stuffed cobra she jumped back and knocked over about 30 grand in merchandise , 4 old ladies, two grown men and two or three baby strollers trying to get out of that store. NFL scouts would have loved her open field running skills at that moment.

Reason I suppose they don't sell stuffed cobras anymore at Pier 1 stores..........:o)

Stay Safe !

[vin-one]

buddy of mine in college, said his girlfriends dad ran a car repair shop that had been broken into several times
He put up signs to the effect Rattlers patroled at night

never another problem with breakins.

[b4its2late]

SHOPPING CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH.

I think the dems planted the snake to shake consumer confidence. It's all a VLWC!

[Grammy]

We killed one off the end of our porch just last week. IF the Tennessee Wildlife people found out about it, they would fine us $250.
Of course, they won't come over and pick him up alive either.

[OpusatFR]

The company my husband works for has a animal removal service oncall because the containers coming from outside the US do have venomous snakes and other critters definitely not domestic that surprise the assembly workers from time to time.. Just another benefit of free trade for all us insular Amuricans.

[Slings and Arrows]

Massachusetts has rattlesnakes (believe it or not). Very protected. Kill one of those suckers and there is hell to pay around here.

If they're a danger to life or property...stomp, shovel, and shut up.

(I'd say "shoot," but this is Massachusetts.)

[No Blue States]

I guess either the rattler didnt warn the guy by rattling its tail, or the guy is a newbie here..its a pretty obvious sound.

Then again, maybe he woke her up and she just snapped.

[freekitty]

A friend of my father saw a rattler in a K-Mart store in Texas.

[TheBattman]

As she made eye contact with the stuffed cobra she jumped back and knocked over about 30 grand in merchandise , 4 old ladies, two grown men and two or three baby strollers trying to get out of that store.

How long did it take for you to pay off all the broken merchandise? She did have to pay for it, didn't she? That would definately count as an over-reaction.

[pabianice]

"Welcome to WAL*BORG. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. Grab the snake..."

[Feckless]

...and hat band, and boots, and......

[Squantos]

Insurance deductable is all that is charged for most "accidents". Lawsuit for intentional acts I suppose. Too many witnesses to my ex-wifes blind ass panic run to the parking lot and beyond for it to be labeled "intentional". She was scared to say the least. We paid a 500 dollar deductable for the damages in the store.

Stay Safe !

[Quilla]

I was going to ask the same thing. I'm hoping she just knocked over a few displays rather than totally demolishing the merchandise. Maybe nothing was broken. Good story though.

[tom h]

Thank God for Texas. Out here in California a few years back a Korean grocer was so frustrated with the number of break-ins by LA gang members that he wired 120 volts AC into the metal door frame around his business. He had a sign up. Stupid perp with an attitude tried to break in anyway and fried himself. The Korean was prosecuted and found guilty.

[G L Tirebiter]

There, the snake was confirmed as a rattler,

They had to take the carcass to the hospital to do this? Either they don't know much about snakes or the victim really stomped the cr*p out of his attacker.

[No Blue States]

I dont guess it would be a good idea to plant one of those rubber snakes by her shoes...