2 children dead after python escapes N.B. pet store

CBC News ^ | 5 Aug 13

[xzins]

Two children died after a python got into an apartment in Campbellton, N.B., RCMP say.

"Police are investigating two sudden deaths of two young boys," Const. Julie Rogers-Marsh said Monday.

It's believed the snake escaped from a pet store called Reptile Ocean. The victims were boys aged five and seven. They were visiting a friend in the apartment above the store, police said in a statement released Monday.

Initial information indicates the snake got into the ventilation system and then into the apartment upstairs.

"It's believed the two boys were strangled by the snake," she said, noting that autopsies are scheduled for tomorrow in Saint John.

[BluH2o]

in the small town of Campbellton

Haven't been thru Campellton NB in a few years but it has never struck me as a small town ... at least not by northern NB standards. Has a hospital, some big box stores (Canadian Tire for instance), etc.. Oh, and at least one Tim Hortons.

[Trailerpark Badass]

Yeah, much of the time.

Far too often owners of snakes and other exotic pets are also covered head to toe with tats, and various screws and bolts sticking out of parts of their bodies.

It all screams "Look at me!" At least to me.

It's a reptile. What kind of bond can you form with it? I'm sure some of them just like animals, but why take it out of nature just to put it in a box?

[xzins]

This makes it sound like the snake was captured in the apartment. Again, it says python.:

http://durangoherald.com/article/20130805/API/1308050844/2-boys-dead-after-python-escapes-store-in-Canada

Two young boys were killed by a python that escaped its enclosure at a pet store in Canada, police said Monday.

The brothers, aged five and seven, were sleeping in a friend’s apartment above the pet store when the snake strangled them, said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Const. Julie Rogers-Marsh.

Police arrived at the apartment in Campbellton, New Brunswick, at 6:30 and found the two boys dead. The friend of the brothers was sleeping in another room and was unharmed, Rogers-Marsh said.

She said the snake was believed to have made its way into the apartment through the ventilation system overnight.

The snake was captured and is in the possession of police. Calls to the pet store were not returned Monday.

[cva66snipe]

One snake two kid in same bed TOGETHER. Yep could be what happened. Posters are assuming kids were awake and apart in the room.

[xzins]

See #63. It appears the snake was in the apartment.

But, there’s an autopsy. I can’t think of why 2 friends visiting a kid would be the target of some evil scheme to off them in their sleep, but it’s not an impossible scenario.

On the other hand, there is a snake, it does constrict, they do appear to have been killed in a manner consistent with a snake, the snake was captured in the apartment, the police don’t seem to be expressing any doubt, and it was on the prowl in an unknown environment.

[Wuli]

and how is a pet store that is allowed to have exotic animals like pythons allowed to be located in the same building, and right below, residential apartments?!?!?

[cva66snipe]

Almost any animal has the ability to kill something first even without being prevoked or hungry. Snakes are no exception neither are dogs especially ones specifically through breeding given such a disposition. If Chihuahuas were the size of Dobermans we’d all be dead LOL. The kill impulse only takes one time one split second. It doesn’t have to have a reason or even need to be triggered. Many a professional animal handler has even fallen because of it.

[xzins]

Oftentimes, store owners live over their shops, and oftentimes landlords rent one floor to a business and the next floor to residents.

You wouldn’t find me around snakes. They’re all endangered species around me. :>)

[cva66snipe]

One other possibility. A snake wandering through a ventilation system in the summer with A/C going or even just air circulation fan would be seeking warmth. Where was warmth in that room? 98.6 degrees warmth.

[Lakeshark]

And we thought she was being friendly........

:-)

[353FMG]

How many deaths by python vs. deaths by pit bull?

I don’t want either of them in my house.

[Veto!]

I wonder when they will become the New PITT BULL in certain communities

LOL What a thought. Can you sic a snake on someone? "Slither, Harry, Slither."

[lefty-lie-spy]

There is something WAAAYYYY wrong with this story. Snakes don’t go on murderous rampages. Five and seven years old? That’s pretty big food. Snakes eat what they kill and they don’t have dessert. There is more to this story. St00pid reporting here.

[xzins]

Read throughout all the posts. There are posts that say snakes do kill and not eat.

But, the bottom line is there is an autopsy being done. We’ll know. FWIW, the snake WAS captured in the apartment.

[Darksheare]

I thought she had a crush on sharkly type people.

[Scotswife]

And the sad thing is... This family didn’t have a snake in their home. I guess people could make sure they aren’t sharing a building with a pet store. But unless you live in the boonies with no neighbors, I suppose this could happen to anyone.

[Salamander]

Well, I have a couple of tats.

Most of the time, people can't see them.

I have a bunch of snakes but even my neighbors don't know I have them because I don't take them out in public.

I've got no screws or bolts and frankly, prefer to be socially invisible.

What kind of bond?

This guy is currently cruising his condo about 6 feet frm where I'm sitting, desperately hoping I'll notice him and bring him out so he can be with me for a while, like this.

He'll visit with me on the sofa for a bit and then wrap the laptop for a couple of hours, in what appears to be a companionable mood.

I know people who sit on the sofa and watch TV with their Boas.

They're more than people assume.

Jake [along with my other snakes] would last about 5 minutes in "nature".

They cannot defend themselves or provide for themselves.

When my 3 foot Ball Python went missing in the walls for 3 weeks, he was nearly dead when I found him.

He was attempting to constrict and kill a -very- small house mouse, incredibly unsuccessfully.

When he went back in his house, he drank for 10 solid minutes and ate 5 times his normal amount of food.

He was an abject failure as a "real snake.

[Darksheare]

“He was attempting to constrict and kill a -very- small house mouse, incredibly unsuccessfully.”

Now now Mr. Mouse, I know I’ll get it eventually!

*No hurry old chap. Really.*

I’ve got it now!

*Wait, that actually adjusted my back some! Please, Sir Snake, can you.. kinda take care of that bad shoulder blade for me?*

This.. this isn’t working.

*What are you talking about? It’s working wonderfully! My back never felt better!*

[Salamander]

LOL!

Honestly, that’s pretty much what it looked like.

He had it in his mouth and was pounding it on the floor!

Pitiful snake.

When they get used to eating mousicles, they either get lazy or stupid.

[Salamander]

Do you own snakes?

They do not have a “raging kill impulse”.

They kill for food and bite in self defense.

The latter entails biting something hard enough to make it let go, whereupon the snake attempts to escape.

Venomous snakes had a decided advantage, there.

There’s still a question of what it was

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23583116

If Boa, I call absolute BS.

If African Rock Python, it becomes possible but unlikely.

I sincerely hope they’re checking out the human beasts in this story very thoroughly.

Snakes simply don’t “kill for kicks”.

They can’t afford to.

Every feeding event includes a huge possibility the snake will be killed or wounded by its intended prey.

Even a scratch from a mouse can become an abscess leading to generalized sepsis.

They *know* this, hence their general avoidance behavior.