DEMING HEADLIGHT (New Mexico) 29 January 08 Snakebite victim in critical condition (Kevin Buey)
A Deming man bitten last Thursday by a poisonous snake remained in critical condition Monday at El Paso's Thomason Hospital.
James Bear, 37, was treated at Deming's Mimbres Memorial Hospital before transferred to the El Paso facility.
Deming Police Chief Michael Carillo said there were numerous snakes of varied species in Bear's home, in the 2000 block of East Pear Street. All were caged. A story in The Headlight last April 25 reported Bear had more than 150 snakes of 47 species. Monday, a friend said Bear had more than 346 snakes just a couple of weeks ago.
Bear was bitten by a Canebrake Rattlesnake —sometimes known as the Timber Rattlesnake. It is most often found the southern United States, particularly, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Its venom is neurotixic — poisonous to nerves and nerve tissue. The Canebrake Rattler may be as big as 4 to 6 feet as an adult.
New Mexico Game and Fish was summoned, Carillo said, to determine if any laws — state or federal — were broken or if Bear had permits for the snakes. There was no further information available Monday, but the Fish and Game Department did report there is a state law against importing wild animals and another rule which makes it a misdemeanor to import any live animal without first obtaining a permit.
Carillo said the city has an ordinance prohibiting poisonous snakes.
Bear operated Southwest Serpentarium in a private facility and planned, according to his website — southwestserpentarium.com — to open a live museum on Highway 549.
Snakebite victim in critical condition

[ Hide Replies ]

• NM Press: Man bitten by pet rattlesnake - W von Papineäu, Mon Jan 28 08:24:05 2008
• RE: NM Press: Man bitten by pet rattlesnake - TimCole, Mon Jan 28 14:28:24 2008
• RE: NM Press: Man bitten by pet rattlesn - desertherper, Mon Jan 28 21:44:42 2008
• RE: NM Press: Man bitten by pet rattlesn - psilocybe, Mon Jan 28 22:01:46 2008
• RE: NM Press: Man bitten by pet rattlesn - TimCole, Mon Jan 28 22:17:04 2008
• RE: NM Press: Man bitten by pet rattlesn - Senior, Tue Jan 29 08:23:29 2008
• Tim..... - TJP, Tue Jan 29 10:13:19 2008
• Epipen - psilocybe, Tue Jan 29 11:54:53 2008
• RE: NM Press: Man bitten by pet rattlesn - jfd, Wed Jan 30 11:08:05 2008
• NM Press: Snakebite victim critical - W von Papineäu, Tue Jan 29 11:11:57 2008
• RE: NM Press: Snakebite victim critical - TimCole, Tue Jan 29 16:01:52 2008
• RE: NM Press: Snakebite victim critical - NVENOM8, Tue Jan 29 17:58:37 2008
• NM Press: Snake wrangler dies of bite - W von Papineäu, Tue Jan 29 19:26:02 2008
• NM Press: Game officers seize 179 snakes - W von Papineäu, Fri Feb 1 07:06:57 2008
• Actually... - TimCole, Fri Feb 1 10:50:45 2008
• RE: Actually... - Senior, Fri Feb 1 12:01:01 2008
• RE: Actually... - TimCole, Fri Feb 1 12:14:22 2008
• RE: NM Press: Game officers seize 179 snakes - blakeswife, Wed Mar 12 06:50:20 2008