Reptile & Amphibian Forums

LB REPORT (Long Beach, California) 02 August 05 Yikes! 18-20 Ft. Burmese Python -- Well-Cared For -- Retrieved From LB Garage
Photo: Animal Control Division, City of LB
In one of its more memorable calls for service, LB's Animal Control Division (part of LB's Dept. of Health & Human Services) recently impounded this 18-20 foot Burmese Python), retrieved from a residential garage in the 200 block of Cerritos Ave. (one block west of Orange Ave.)
The bizarre situation arose when LBPD had an unrelated matter to conduct with the snake's owner and LB Animal Control was summoned to deal with the creature. Wesley Moore, Services Officer for LB's Animal Control Division, says Animal Control officers arrived on July 24 and found the snake well cared-for and the cage secure...and returned on July 25 with a crew sufficient to handle the estimated 300 pound beast. It took seven people to do so.
Mr. Moore said Pythons suffocate their targets by constricting around them...and literature indicates Pythons of lesser size have killed people. Based on those reports, Mr. Moore said it's believed an 18-20 foot Python could kill a person. He added that the snake might kill the person first before deciding the person is too big to eat...but could kill and eat a child.
Mr. Moore noted that Burmese Pythons normally eat rabbitts...and this particular reptile had been fed four rabbits about two days earlier.
Procedurally, the snake's owner will now be required to apply for a Wild Animal permit which entails a Vicious Animal Hearing, a proceeding to determine if the animal is vicious and under what conditions it might be kept in the city. Mr. Moore said Animal Control staff have a number of concerns about having this snake in the city. He added it's anticipated that the Bureau would canvass the area and advise residents in advance of the proceedings.
We thought a good name for the Python would be "Monty." However, it's a female and already has a name...and not particularly reassuring: "Houdini."
Houdini is currently residing in a well-secured cage at LB's ELB Animal Control facility.
18-20 Ft. Burmese Python -- Well-Cared For -- Retrieved From LB Garage

"Mr. Moore said Pythons suffocate their targets by constricting around them...and literature indicates Pythons of lesser size have killed people. Based on those reports, Mr. Moore said it's believed an 18-20 foot Python could kill a person. He added that the snake might kill the person first before deciding the person is too big to eat...but could kill and eat a child."

Mr. Moore is truly one of those wonderful people that should never speak publicly again! I have literature that says Aliens have already taken over the world... Maybe I should get his opinion on that one?!
-----
Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
1-1-0 Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-1-0 Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

Unfortun. every time something like this hits the press it gives people amply opportunity to talk out of their _________ .

have literature that says Aliens have already taken over the world... Maybe I should get his opinion on that one?!

LOL If ya do, I'd like to hear it pleez.

Quig

what the?! Did I post that? ...hmmm YOU READ NOTHING... THERE IS NOTHING GOING ON... EVERYTHING IS FINE... And you don't see the white van parked outside your driveway... See, I bet if you look outside right now you won't even see it out there now! Ah, its wonderful working for the government, no pay, but we get the little mind control thingy's! Opps, forget I wrote that part LOL
-----
Bryan, Atlanta GA

1-0-0 Ball Python - Apep
0-1-0 Mountain Horned Dragon - Ki
1-1-0 Rats... no wait... ROTTEN Little Cats - Ra, Bastet
0-1-0 Little Angelic Kitten - Isis
1-0-0 Horse... whoops... BIG Golden Retriever - Jake
0-1-0 Wife
2-0-0 Kids

I've seen a lot worse in the press. A burm of that size is very capable of killing a human; though it would be unlikely, it is very possible if not kept and managed properly. The animal control people even state that the animal was well cared for although the pictures to me show a large burm on the verge of obesity. Here's my major beef.....THE OWNER. Although well cared for aside from probably being overfed, keeping a burm of that size in a GARAGE, even if in a locked cage, is not responsible keeping when you are in a residential area. If you are out in the sticks, perhaps it isn't that big of a deal but something of that size is just a few inches from freedom and a snake of that size could certainly do a lot of damage in a neighborhood (damage in terms of BAD PR for the responsible owners of large constrictors). So, before we take shots at the media and animal control, just realize that we need to first hold accountable irresponsible keepers of large burms. Hopefully, this guy will be cited and be allowed to keep his burm INSIDE his home.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>LB REPORT (Long Beach, California) 02 August 05 Yikes! 18-20 Ft. Burmese Python -- Well-Cared For -- Retrieved From LB Garage
>> Photo: Animal Control Division, City of LB
>>In one of its more memorable calls for service, LB's Animal Control Division (part of LB's Dept. of Health & Human Services) recently impounded this 18-20 foot Burmese Python), retrieved from a residential garage in the 200 block of Cerritos Ave. (one block west of Orange Ave.)
>>The bizarre situation arose when LBPD had an unrelated matter to conduct with the snake's owner and LB Animal Control was summoned to deal with the creature. Wesley Moore, Services Officer for LB's Animal Control Division, says Animal Control officers arrived on July 24 and found the snake well cared-for and the cage secure...and returned on July 25 with a crew sufficient to handle the estimated 300 pound beast. It took seven people to do so.
>>Mr. Moore said Pythons suffocate their targets by constricting around them...and literature indicates Pythons of lesser size have killed people. Based on those reports, Mr. Moore said it's believed an 18-20 foot Python could kill a person. He added that the snake might kill the person first before deciding the person is too big to eat...but could kill and eat a child.
>>Mr. Moore noted that Burmese Pythons normally eat rabbitts...and this particular reptile had been fed four rabbits about two days earlier.
>>Procedurally, the snake's owner will now be required to apply for a Wild Animal permit which entails a Vicious Animal Hearing, a proceeding to determine if the animal is vicious and under what conditions it might be kept in the city. Mr. Moore said Animal Control staff have a number of concerns about having this snake in the city. He added it's anticipated that the Bureau would canvass the area and advise residents in advance of the proceedings.
>>We thought a good name for the Python would be "Monty." However, it's a female and already has a name...and not particularly reassuring: "Houdini."
>>Houdini is currently residing in a well-secured cage at LB's ELB Animal Control facility.
>>18-20 Ft. Burmese Python -- Well-Cared For -- Retrieved From LB Garage
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

I wish I had some more info on why they took the snake in the first place. They said she was in a secure cage, so I'm guessing it didn't get out. Is it illegal to keep one there?

The way they said the lbpd had an unrelated matter to conduct with the owner, I'm guessing he was leaving with them, But I don't think that is reason to take someones pet. Hell I've gone to jail before, they didn't take my dogs, why would they take the snake.

And BTW how the hell do you tell if a snake is vicious ? I know how it is done with dogs, I've seen it, but how would you do it with a snake? I meen you can't give the snake food, then put that rubber hand next to it to see if it will bit, thats one of the things they do with dogs. hell if they did that then ALL snakes would be called vicious, may-be not all but most would.

I really don't see what the owner did that was so bad, so he kept his snake in a "secure cage" in the garage. I know a lot of people who use their garage as a snake room. I'm sorry but I just can't find anything wrong with that.

You answered your own question...he needs to apply for a permit.