Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Driver Finds Four Poisonous Snakes in Box ["So I went over and kicked the box!"
AP ^ | 5/17/04

Posted on 05/17/2004 12:18:50 PM PDT by 11th Earl of Mar


Today: May 17, 2004 at 11:05:46 PDT

Driver Finds Four Poisonous Snakes in Box


ASSOCIATED PRESS

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A curious pickup truck driver spotted a box in the grass marked "Live venomous reptile" east of downtown and stopped to take a look.

"When you see something like that, you want to look and see what it is," Paul Mitchell of Little Rock said of his Friday afternoon discovery. "I went over and kicked the box."

The electrician looked inside and found a cloth bag slithering into the form of a cobra ready to strike.

"I was like, 'Hot dog! That thing is big!'" Mitchell said.

Mitchell grabbed up the box, put it in the bed of his truck and took it to the Little Rock Zoo.

"I was just going to take it back to work and kill it, but I figure cobras aren't indigenous to Arkansas," Mitchell said. "I knew the zoo would have a snake handler."

Randal Berry, the zoo's reptile keeper, took the snakes in out of concern for public safety. He said the zoo doesn't usually take in animals.

Berry said the cobra was very aggressive as he pulled it from the sack, repeatedly rearing its hooded head. Also inside the box were a 14-inch-long twig snake; an East African bright green mamba that measured 6 feet long, and a 4-foot black mamba. All are highly venomous and there is no antivenin in Arkansas.

Berry said the snakes were in good condition and estimated that, together, they were worth about $1,000.

No one knows where the snakes came from. The box had no markings other than "Live venomous snakes." Berry said no snakes were missing from the zoo.

Cindy Dawson, assistant city attorney and zoo docent, guessed that the snakes came into the city illegally. Keeping, selling, possessing or maintaining venomous reptiles is illegal, though some exceptions are made for education, research and entertainment.

City officials said they're hopeful all the snakes are accounted for, but that they would remind any animal control workers that calls reporting any exotic snakes could be serious and not pranks.

Zoo officials said they haven't decided what they're going to do with the snakes, including the seething cobra.

"I don't want it here," Berry said with a laugh. "He's not a nice guy."

--




TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Arkansas
KEYWORDS: cobra; garrickwales; snakes; yikes
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-125 next last
To: 11th Earl of Mar

Pizon! I bought one fer ma boy once fer Christmas. You want one fer yer boy. "Rock of ages, cleft fer me..." One of the best scenes ever from an "Earnest" movie.


61 posted on 05/17/2004 1:36:31 PM PDT by aardvark1 (You can't have everything...where would you put it? --Steven Wright)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 11th Earl of Mar

The Arkansas Bar Association is going to be wondering why their officers are late for the meeting.


62 posted on 05/17/2004 1:41:49 PM PDT by N. Theknow (John Kerry knows how to screw the rich - both his wives are millionaires)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gargoyle; vetvetdoug

My friend told me a story that is bushman legend and has been pretty much verified: that one black mamba killed a dozen shepherds from Rhodesia in a single scrum. He told me another black mamba killed seven villagers in one night before being captured and living out its life peacefully in a zoo. Some of the Adders actually kill more people in Africa, but no snake kills multiple "threats" with the efficiency and quickness of a mamba. Magnificent serpent.


63 posted on 05/17/2004 1:41:59 PM PDT by Barlowmaker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: el_chupacabra
...Here's a fact, snakes coil up to strike. They can only extend one third the length of their body to defend themselves...

...When nature calls you to stop in her world to urinate, calculate the distance between your snake and mother natures snake...

64 posted on 05/17/2004 1:46:01 PM PDT by gargoyle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: 11th Earl of Mar

didn't the story say "hillary reared her ugly head"???


65 posted on 05/17/2004 1:46:11 PM PDT by cajun-jack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: 11th Earl of Mar

I hate snakes


66 posted on 05/17/2004 1:47:19 PM PDT by RIGHT IN LAS VEGAS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: zencat
Are the Clintons' in Arkansas?

No. Arkansas had a choice between the Clintons and a box full of large, hungry, angry, venomous snakes and chose wisely.

67 posted on 05/17/2004 1:51:14 PM PDT by theDentist (John Kerry never saw a TAX he wouldn't HIKE !!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: vetvetdoug

Om my lord...your poor mother! How did she get the clothes out?

A friend of ours was a reptile dealer many years back & he had both a cobra & a black mamba. The black mamba escaped once due to a very stupid friend....that snake tracked them around the house. They were being hunted. Luckily, my friend was able to recapture it.


68 posted on 05/17/2004 1:57:59 PM PDT by Feiny (This post ain't for everybody, just the sexy freepers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: feinswinesuksass
She tells the story often but never said how she got the little critters out!! Our neighbors thought our family strange because my mother would always make me turn my pockets inside out and pull my trousers off before I entered the house after that episode. Little did they know what event triggered that small idiosyncrasy unique to me and my mother.
69 posted on 05/17/2004 2:02:51 PM PDT by vetvetdoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: winodog
I will never forget my friend kicking a box while we were walking in the desert. It had a battery in it and he broke his foot.
LOL never ever kick a box if you dont know what is in it.

I heard a story once in the East Bay Area about a guy who saw a cardboard box in the middle of Highway 4 and ran over it, just for the heck of it.

It had apparently fallen off a truck, and it contained a small safe.

70 posted on 05/17/2004 2:06:05 PM PDT by Riley (Need an experienced computer tech in the DC Metro area? I'm looking. Freepmail for details.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: vetvetdoug

It is amazing all the stupid things we did as kids and managed to survive. We lived near a man made lake & were told by the adults that there were snake pits at the bottom. The area did have water moccasins and cottonmouths....so naturally we would jump off the docks and try to land in the snake pits.


71 posted on 05/17/2004 2:07:28 PM PDT by Feiny (This post ain't for everybody, just the sexy freepers.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: Ursa63
The "kickball" was a 16 lb bowling ball my mastiff played with, and the dude was barefoot.

That hurts just reading it.

72 posted on 05/17/2004 2:09:18 PM PDT by Riley (Need an experienced computer tech in the DC Metro area? I'm looking. Freepmail for details.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: JacobsBubbie
Only in Arkansas

A Jay Leno skit last year was mentioning secondary uses of common products found in fine print on the products. For the products, "Depends," the fine print read: "May be used as indoor plumbing in Arkansas."

73 posted on 05/17/2004 2:09:36 PM PDT by Colofornian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: vetvetdoug
...Interesting post. I never did do venomous snakes. Lots of non-vens. They are facinating animals. In the CZ, I encountered a nest(?) of Fer de Lances'. The Bushmaster was another one to avoid down there...

...What you don't know, can kill. When you start "Pettin" learn your human limitations and know your pets behavior...

74 posted on 05/17/2004 2:09:37 PM PDT by gargoyle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: 11th Earl of Mar




"It's a tale of two great snakes
that snake great together: Giant reptiles
battle to the death — with hapless humans
as the prize! David Hewlett (the new SCI FI Original
series Stargate Atlantis) and Angel Boris
(SCI FI Pictures' Dragon Storm and Epoch: Evolution) star."

"WORLD PREMIERE: Saturday, May 22, at 9PM ET/PT"
75 posted on 05/17/2004 2:09:39 PM PDT by theFIRMbss
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

If I kicked a box full of snakes, let alone venemous ones, you would have to cut the grass in that area once a day for several years.


76 posted on 05/17/2004 2:09:44 PM PDT by flying Elvis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: glock rocks

Those African mambas are cheaper than a divorce! I guess that's why they're illegal in the US. I doubt there is an antivenin anywhere in the US for them.

The Mrs. and I are still on great terms with each other. (As far as I know)


77 posted on 05/17/2004 2:10:25 PM PDT by B4Ranch ( "Lady I only speak two languages, English and Bad English!" - Corbin Dallas "The Fifth Element")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: el_chupacabra

Did you commune with nature or your pant leg?


78 posted on 05/17/2004 2:13:15 PM PDT by B4Ranch ( "Lady I only speak two languages, English and Bad English!" - Corbin Dallas "The Fifth Element")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Barlowmaker
My friend told me a story that is bushman legend and has been pretty much verified: that one black mamba killed a dozen shepherds from Rhodesia in a single scrum. He told me another black mamba killed seven villagers in one night before being captured and living out its life peacefully in a zoo. Some of the Adders actually kill more people in Africa, but no snake kills multiple "threats" with the efficiency and quickness of a mamba. Magnificent serpent.

Steve Irwin sometimes scares me. He had one 'Crocodile Hunter' episode where he went to Africa to pester various venemous things. He rolls up in a village and runs into a hut that has a Black Mamba in it, to catch it. He chasing after Black and Green Mambas (up into the trees with them), a HUGE Puff Adder, and these nasty large scorpions.

79 posted on 05/17/2004 2:16:31 PM PDT by Riley (Need an experienced computer tech in the DC Metro area? I'm looking. Freepmail for details.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: flying Elvis

I can't stop!!!!!!! ROTFLMA


80 posted on 05/17/2004 2:16:40 PM PDT by B4Ranch ( "Lady I only speak two languages, English and Bad English!" - Corbin Dallas "The Fifth Element")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-125 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson