ZANESVILLE TIMES RECORDER (Ohio) 22 June 05 Deadly snake missing - Poisonous pit viper reportedly stolen from home (Mike Redelson)

Bucyrus: An African snake whose venom can kill an adult in 15 minutes remained missing Tuesday evening, the Crawford County Sheriff's Office said.

Phil Gallant, 43, of 1940 Brokensword Road in Lyken Township, reported a Gaboon pit viper was stolen from his home early Monday.

The tan and white snake, described as about 12 inches long, poisonous and deadly, was in a small white plastic container.

Bucyrus police searched a South Sandusky Avenue residence Monday but the snake was not found.

Police said the only bites they know of in the missing snake case are from a dog.

Gallant was bitten by a dog Monday morning when he went to the residence to confront a man he believed had taken the snake, police said.

Gallant's hands and head were injured and he was treated at Galion Community Hospital. The dog owner was served a confinement notice.

Officer Ralph Grubel said the dog jumped into a fight between Gallant and the man he accused of taking the snake.

Gaboon pit vipers are native to the rain forests of tropical Africa.

On Feb. 7, Gallant was bitten by one of the poisonous snakes he keeps in a reportedly secure and climate-controlled building at his home. He was taken to Bucyrus Community Hospital then flown by medical helicopter to a Cincinnati hospital where he was treated with anti-venom.

Gallant has 60 to 70 snakes, most of them nonpoisonous. The largest is a 140-pound Burmese python. He has exhibited some of his snakes publicly, including at several schools.

An employee of the city of Marion service department. He has collected and sold snakes for 25 years.

Anyone with knowledge of the missing Gaboon pit viper is asked to immediately call the sheriff's office at 419-562-7906 and not to handle or move the snake or the cage it might be in.
Deadly snake missing - Poisonous pit viper reportedly stolen from home

[ Show Entire Thread ]