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WFTV (Orlando, Florida) 31 July 08 Zoo Worker Bitten On Neck By Snake As Children Look On
Brevard County, Fla. : A Brevard Zoo worker was attacked by a 5-foot snake Thursday right in front of a classroom full of kids. She was bitten in the neck by a boa constrictor, an unusual attack for that type of snake.
Unlike rattle snakes and cobras, boa constrictors don't typically use their teeth to go after their prey. Their teeth are relatively small, still the woman bit Thursday was taken to the hospital and the snake was locked up.
Rose, the 5-foot long boa constrictor, hid in the back of her enclosure for at least an hour after she lashed out at one of her handlers. Eyewitnesses said the bite was instantaneous, described as a nick to the neck of the zoo worker, whose name has not been released.
Staff said the bite wasn't a particularly serious injury, but colleagues still called for an ambulance.
"It had more to do with her being lightheaded about 15 minutes after it happened," said Andrea Hill, Brevard Zoo.
Zoo staff said the woman was showing the 13-year-old snake to young kids at a zoo day camp and was putting it back in the case when it bit her.
"They were there when it happened and I do know they asked if she was okay and we said, 'Yes, she was bitten,'" Hill said.
Snake handlers said boa constrictors don't typically bite people. Their teeth are not generally used to catch prey or chew, but rather to push food they've strangled through their mouth. Zoo staff said they are constantly reminded they are animals, not pets, and have natural instincts.
"Any animal with a mouth can obviously injure you," Hill said.
Zoo staff are keeping Rose and other snakes off limits for the time being while they try to determine what, if anything, might have provoked the snake to strike. One thing they are looking into is whether the woman handled any rodents before she held onto the snake. Handlers said just the scent of a mouse or rat might have been enough to spur the bite. They are also looking into whether a loud noise may have spooked the animal.
The handler was out of the hospital Thursday afternoon and said to be okay.
Zoo Worker Bitten On Neck

Gotta love reporters, "boa constrictors don't typically use their teeth to go after their prey." I'll have to let mine know they don't know how to feed.

You said it all with this sarcastic statement "Gotta love reporters", "boa constrictors don't typically use their teeth to go after their prey"
Just rediculous, great job reporting "Ya Right" !
These reporters today Don't do any research about any subject so as to enlighten themselves about the subject of which they report on.
They come across as complete idiots to those who know better.
Worse they pass along incomplete or completely bad/wrong information.
. . . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz

They are also looking into whether a loud noise may have spooked the animal.

WOW... Those "handlers" really know their animals!
lol
jb
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Jonathan Brady
*You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.*

Oh yes I always try and make sure not to make "any" load noises
to spook my snakes LOL

I'm still hung up on the boas don't typically bite....Raise your hand if you've ever been bit by a boa.

Gotta love the media...I've seen three news stories one this...one says the kids didn't see her get bit. One says she got bit right in front of the kids...and one says the kids asked if she was Ok.

Im surprised they didnt say she was poisonous
they got everything else wrong about boas
You gotta love the fact that they dont use
their teeth to catch prey and that load noises
can spook them

If I knew any better, I'd just say the snake was pissed off, but what do I know?! Geez, they act like animals don't get irritated every now and again.
I would assume an animal used for display would be used to a lot of noise and attention as well, so whatever happened to watching an animals physical behavior? Half the time I can tell when NOT to over-handle my animals by their attitude alone. I wonder if this information on the attack and reasons were the reporters alone or passed on through the experienced folk who work with the boa or at the zoo? Makes you wonder...
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
1.0 Probable Super Salmontine
0.1 DH Sunglow (Bonnie)
0.0.1 Hypo het anery
1.0.0 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.1 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal)
1.2 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Tang.)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
0.1 Emerald Tree boa (Jade)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.1 Carpet Pythons (Jackson & Charlotte)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

get it wrong almost all of the time. (Not just with snake stories
either).

I thought it was funny how they said Rose was locked up after
biting the handler, like she was a free roaming snake before.

MAYBE THEY SHOULD ASK THE SNAKE WHY IT BIT...AMAZING STUPIDITY

At least the snake knew it did something wrong and "hid in the back of her enclosure for at least an hour after she lashed out at one of her handlers"
My snakes never learn when I put them in time out.
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Brian K. MacDonald
Space Coast Reptiles

JB you didn't loan her out to a bunch of fools did you