DAYTON DAILY NEWS (Ohio) 06 August 03 Deadly viper almost struck again - Officials revise details on when anti-venom available (Lou Grieco and Cathy Mong)
Dayton: The African rhino viper that killed Michael Peterman was still in its cage, the door slightly open, when Tim Harrison went to find the snake.
Harrison, an Oakwood safety officer and animal expert, used a snake hook to pull the viper from the cage, but it briefly got loose and almost bit him.
"I almost got nailed myself," Harrison said Tuesday. "Very fast snake."
Peterman, 48, a Dayton firefighter who collected snakes and other exotic animals, owned the viper for about 12 years.
He died Monday, one day after the venomous snake bit him on the left hand.
"It's all sinking in today," said friend Kent Parker, also a Dayton firefighter. He said Peterman died "through a hobby of his that he loved, had a passion for."
Peterman was comfortable with the snake, even though he told friends the viper "seemed to develop a bit of a temperament" as it got older, Parker said.
Peterman was bitten Sunday night at his Belmont home. His wife, Laura, drove him to Fire Station 15 on Wayne Avenue, minutes from their house, where crews quickly started working on him, Parker said.
Peterman was then taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where he was unconscious when he arrived, said Harrison, who was called by the hospital.
Harrison said earlier reports that no anti-venom was in the area were untrue. A University of Cincinnati Hospital spokesman said Monday that Peterman died while doctors were awaiting more anti-venom being flown in from Miami.
University of Cincinnati Hospital provided at least six vials to Miami Valley Hospital, which used it Sunday night to stabilize Peterman, Harrison said.
After that, Peterman was flown by helicopter to UC Hospital. He died there at 3:17 p.m. Monday.
Parker also said that Peterman received anti-venom from at least two sources.
The hospital had plenty of the anti-venom, which can be used for all viper venoms, and Harrison's brother Jim, who owns the Kentucky Reptile Zoo in Slade, Ky., also had 50 vials available, Harrison said.
"I don't know why the guys from Miami flew up here," Harrison said. "There's no reason for them to come."
Hospital officials declined comment Tuesday, citing the federal Health Information Portability and Accountability Act’s Privacy Rule.
Jack Cover, general curator of fish and rainforest exhibits at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, said the amount of anti-venom needed to counter a bite could range from several vials to 30 or more. "Basically you use whatever it takes to neutralize the symptoms."
Freeze-dried anti-venom can be stored for three years, liquid up to two years. "In Florida, there's an anti-venom serum bank," Cover said.
The rhinoceros viper, also known as the river jack, is a 28-inch long, 3-pound male with a striking camouflage-like pattern of black, purple and gray. He was taken to Heaven's Corner Zoo on Quinn Road near West Alexandria to be cared for by Kord McGuire.
He said the viper will stay in quarantine and could be placed on exhibit later.
Parker said it is unclear why the snake struck Peterman. He said Peterman's wife told him the snake had already been fed. It might have happened when Peterman was closing the cage door, he said.
Parker stressed that Peterman had been handling exotic animals for more than 20 years.
"Mike was not some novice," Parker said. "Mike knew his animals."
Cover said there is no room for lax judgment when dealing with a venomous snake.
"This kind of snake is a 'sit-and-wait predator,’ meaning it doesn't move very fast on land but has a lightning-fast strike," Cover said. "It's hard to determine where a snake like it will strike, because it uses smell and visual cues and has one chance to catch its prey.
It "has two large foldable fangs that act like hypodermic needles," Cover said.
He said the rhinoceros viper's venom contains both hemotoxins — which affect the blood, destroy tissue and are very painful — and neurotoxins — which attack the nervous system and brain. There can be little pain, but the venom shuts the respiratory system and interferes with heart functions.
"It's not the top venomous snake in the world, but it can pump a lot of venom," he said.
Peterman was a nature lover who also grew orchids and kept a butterfly garden. Cub Scouts came to his home for field trips, Parker said.
"Mike was a colorful guy," Parker said. "Most firefighters have some little eccentric side."
Peterman married his wife about 1 1/2 years ago. They had no children, Parker said.
Peterman started as a firefighter in January 1990 and worked at Fire Station 11 on West Third Street for many years, once helping handle a python found under a truck parked down the street from the station. He most recently was assigned to Fire Station 8 on Stanley Avenue.
He held several advanced training certifications for hazardous materials operations and was an Ohio-certified emergency medical technician.
"He was a solid employee," said Fire Chief Larry Collins. "He's going to be missed. There's no doubt about it."
Officials with Dayton Firefighters Local 136 agreed.
"Losing one of your own, it's as rough as it gets," said union spokesman Craig Wolfe. "We're a family here."
Harrison said he did not know Peterman well, but met him several times, including during the python capture. Peterman told him he owned snakes, but didn't say any were venomous, Harrison said.
"He never told me he had anything hot," Harrison said.
Harrison is also director of Outreach for Animals, a nonprofit group that rescues 60 to 100 exotic animals each year when they can no longer be controlled by their owners.
He said he's seen a massive explosion of venomous snakes since Animal Planet-type television shows became popular. Exotic animals, even dangerous ones, are featured in classified advertisements and sold on the Internet. But Peterman’s death shows how dangerous certain animals can be.
"This is a guy who had lots of experience handling these animals," Harrison said. "If something like this could happen to him, it could happen to anyone."
Anyone who has trouble handling an exotic animal or other pet can contact Harrison's organization at contactus@outreachforanimals.com or at the Web site www.outreachforanimals.org
A memorial Mass for Michael Peterman will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Immaculate Conception, 2300 S. Smithville Road. Memorial contributions may be made to Heaven's Corner Zoo for Endangered Animals, 385 Quinn Road, West Alexandria, Ohio 45381.
Deadly viper almost struck again