Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know what the statistics are for pet snake attacks versus wild attacks? I have this friend that is trying to tell me that More people are killed/attacked each year by escaped pet snakes than wild ones. I don't agree. I thought, yeah, there could be more bites, but not deaths. I snake isn't gonna try and kill something it can't eat, unless people are not careful with venomous snakes. Anyway, I told him that, say a constrictor, unless really big, isn't gonna try to coil around your neck and kill you. Any opinions or articles I could look at? Thanks.
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1.0 Dumeril's Boa(acrantophis dumerili)
1.0 Argentine Boa(Boa constrictor occidentalis)
0.1 Significant other
0.1 Roommate
0.1 Cat(Burden)
4.3 Fish(the cast of Pirates of the Carribean)

just smack some sense into your friend. More fun too
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Jonathan Brady
"Sarcasm is angers ugly cousin" -Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson) in "Anger Management".

I could see this being TRUE only due to proximity.

Usually in the wild a snake will be able to retreat away from a human rather then risking a confrontation. This leads to fewer bits and deaths.
In a captive situation, the snake will most likly be cornered and have no other option but to attack. Additionally there is the problem with being warmblooded and possibly walking into an enclosure after a meal or smelling of prey items. Another recipie for disaster.
I am not basing this on any fact, just my logic. Your friend could be right, but it would be wrong to imply that captive snakes are more dangerous. Plain and simple ... when there is more interaction there is a higher chance of a bite weather in the wild or in captivity.
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- Jason F.

What are you talking about? In the world I am sure there are more deaths from wild reptiles than captives. Many 3rd world countries have quite venomous snakes and a lack of the infostructure to treat snake bit victims. Most people who get bit do not survive.

In the US death from a wild snake is pretty slim, most people who are bitten are treated and saved. Death from exotic reptiles were antivenom is not readily available (no necessarily the animal escaped, more the handler was being dumb) happens. Every once in awhile you will see a report of a large python constricting someone too. I wouldn't be surprised if more people in the US died from captives but it is probably close.

Anyways, none of this is from facts, simply speculation.

Yeah, I was talking more U.S. related. He was simplying saying that it was unprovoked snake attacks. And I disagreed
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1.0 Dumeril's Boa(acrantophis dumerili)
1.0 Argentine Boa(Boa constrictor occidentalis)
0.1 Significant other
0.1 Roommate
0.1 Cat(Burden)
4.3 Fish(the cast of Pirates of the Carribean)

You should be able to get some info from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga. They keep those kind of stastistics.