KYTV (Springfield, Missouri) 07 July 10 Texas County man nearly dies from snake bite (Linda Russell)

A Texas County man nearly died after being bitten by his pet cobra. It happened a few miles north of Houston. The sheriff says his department found out about it when someone called the Children's Division, saying there were several kids in the home with extremely poisonous snakes.

The man was bitten on the finger by one of five poisonous snakes in his collection of about a dozen exotic snakes. Texas County Sheriff Carl Watson says they were not registered as required, but the family has agreed to get rid of them after the nearly fatal bite. "And if that's the case, they're not going to be charged with any offense. Even though they didn't register them prior to this, if they take care of the problem, we're going to go along with that," Watson says.

The poisonous snakes inside the home include two diamondback rattle snakes, a puff adder and two cobras. The man was bitten last week and was flown to a St Louis hospital to be treated, where the proper treatment was available. He is out of the hospital tonight.

http://www.ky3.com/news/local/Texas-County-man-nearly-dies-from-snake-bite-97994384.html



HOUSTON HERALD (Missouri) 06 July 10 Houston man critical after bitten by cobra inside home

Houston, Mo.: A Houston man remains in critical condition in a St. Louis hospital after being bitten last week by a cobra inside his home.

Lt. Melissa Dunn of the Texas County Sheriff's Department said the man collects exotic snakes, including, two boa constrictors, three rattlesnakes and two cobras, at his home near Twin Bridges.

"He got one out to play with it, for lack of a better term, when it bit him in the finger," Dunn said.

Dunn said the man was taken to Texas County Memorial Hospital before being flown to St. Louis, where anti-venom was available. Dunn said the man, who with his wife recently moved to Houston from out of state, appeared to be very knowledgeable about the snakes and told rescue workers he must be treated in two hours.

Authorities have not been able to determine how the man gained possession of the snakes. Dunn said they have only spoken briefly with the wife, who remains at her husband's bedside.

Dunn said state law requires the man to tell local authorities he possessed the snakes. Dunn said he had not.

The mother of the wife let authorities inside the home after the bite, Dunn said. She said the snakes were kept in a separate, locked room. Each snake was inside its own locked cage -- some glass, others Dunn describe as "big drawers."

Dunn said authorities continue to check the snakes to confirm they are confined inside the cages. She said the snakes would ultimately be disposed of or sold.

Cited privacy concerns, Dunn and TCMH officials declined to identify the man.

http://www.houstonherald.com/news/article_47fc6dd8-893d-11df-80ab-001cc4c002e0.html

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