Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just on a radio station speaking about the burmese python. The subject came up about about how boa constrictors kill humans. I informed him that their is no valid proof of a boa ever killing anyone. I think that I am correct in my statement. Does anyone else have any knowledge of a boa ever killing anyone ? Thanks

There are no varified deaths of a human from a Boa Constrictor.

There was one case in Ohio, 2006, where a man was killed by a "boa or python". The animal in question was 13 feet long. Most likely it was a python, but nobody bothered to verify if it was a boa or python.

Here's the statistics on fatatities by "non-venomous" snakes.

http://www.rexano.org/Statistics/Constrictor_Captive_Snake_Fatality.pdf
Link

Here's another list compiled by the Humane Society.

http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/hsus_calls_for_stricter_snake_regulations_102408.html
Link

Here's a link to statistics on other animals that have killed humans.

http://www.rexano.org/Statistics/StatisticsFrame.htm
Link

I live in Ohio and I saw the story on the local evening news the day it happened. The "Boa" was shown on the program; it was Burm. In addition to being identified as a Boa, it was reported in one of the local papers as a Ball python... I get so frustrated at the ineptness of news reporters. People take what they say as fact, and it is soooooo often WRONG!
But, I guess I'm preaching to the chior, any of us that has read anything about snakes in the news has seen it first hand. They are rarely accurate.

Mark
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uncommonboa.com

There has never been a human death by a Boa ever recored.
That 13 snake in Ohio was finally properly identified
as a Burmese Python.
I believe the deceased man was extremely intoxicated at the
time of the incident if I remember correctly

. . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz

I realize that it is an older article, but I think it gets the point across:

http://www.anapsid.org/pdv-boid.html

Some Facts on Human Deaths in the United States

©1993 Philippe de Vosjoli, The Vivarium, 4(4):35. Expanded information by Melissa Kaplan

- Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States seeks medical attention for a dog bite–related injury.

- During 1979–1998, dog attacks killed more than 300 Americans.

- Nearly 800,000 people sought medical care for dog bites in 1994; half of them were children under 18.

From the CDC Injury Factbook: Dog Bites

Reptiles are very scary creatures to many people. Some reptiles, like many other animals kept as pets, can cause devastating wounds, transmit diseases to humans, and should always be treated with care and respect, no matter how tame they are. To put fears in perspective, the following facts are presented:

Human Deaths Caused By Animals

Animal Type
Per Year

Horses1
219

Dogs2
14

Reticulated pythons3
0.3

Burmese pythons3
0.1

Other pythons3
0.0

Boa constrictors3
0.0

Other boas4
0.0

Human Deaths by Accidents

Type of Accident
Per Year (avg. 1986-88)

Motor vehicles5
48,411

Firearms5
1464

Drowning during sports/recreation5
1030

Domestic wiring and appliances5
131

Estimated human injuries by Horses in US in 1991: 71,4906
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Cheers,
Jessica Gibbs
Ball Pythons; Corn Snakes; Green Tree Python; Jungle Carpet Pythons; Bci; Bcl
3.0 Crazy Dogs and 2.0 cats
Some Tropical Fish
...........and growing!