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Last night one of my beloved snakes was killed in a freak accident. I was sitting right here at the computer and one of my newly caught corn snakes was sitting in my lap while I was working.
"Stumpy" my snakes name because he was missing about an inch from his tail, decided to go for a slither around the shop which is what I normally let them do in the evenings. When he was climbing down to the floor he dissapeared. I carefully stood up to see where he was because I didnt want to step on him accidentally. Under my very expensive leather executive chair is the height adjustment lever and such. Well Stumpy somehow managed to crawl inside the mechanism and was not able to turn around to get out.
When I discovered him he had gotten his head stuck between his body and wedged inside the small opening that he entered through. In doing so he panicked and strangled himself. This all happened withing five minutes time.
I rushed to try and save him but could not free him. He died looking right into my eyes helpless to free himself and me helpless to get him out.
I destroyed a $500.00 chair in doing so but to no avail. I couldn't even get him out for a proper burial and ended up digging a hole out behind the shop and burying both him and the bottom chair assembly together.
So I hope this helps others prevent a freak accident from killing someone elses beloved snake in the future. Even a simple chair can be deadly.
Im very sad today and still shake my head in disbelief that this tradgedy happened...
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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Corn snakes, beautiful snakes BTW, are constrictors. They kill by suffocating their prey. Imagine yourself the size of a hamster and stumpy gets a hold of you. You'd last less than five minutes.
My wife called me at work one day...wanted me to come home. In a distressed voice she informed me that there was a snakee in the baby's bedroom. I told her to just shut the door to the room and I'd take care of it when i got home. When I arrived about three hours later, she and the baby were waiting at the gate...and i was laughing. She was afraid the snake might have gotten out of the room into somewhere else in the house.
After rummaging through mountains of toys, under the bed, behind the dresser, I finally found the corn snake inside a cardboard box in the baby's closet. No, I didn't kill it. I caught it and took it outside. Would have made a nice hatband though.
[ June 04, 2003, 04:46 PM: Message edited by: Wayne Webb ]
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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i have a 4 ft corn snake too. its orange i dotn remember how to spell the name of its color, but its a good pet..
My wife finally will look at it and even will put some water in its tank.. It never complains, like to be with people, eats good and entertains the cat through the glass....
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5278 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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there is a black snake that lives in my shop. haven't seen it but once. see where it sheds skins but don't have mice anymore. my wife says she saw 1 in the house.
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Sorry to hear that you lost one of your buddies. Don't feel badly about the chair being his demise. Who'd a thunk it? I guess they are like puppies, they will find the one thing you overlooked to get themselves in trouble.
He's a lucky guy. How many pets do you know of having a $500.00 coffin?
-------------------- Kathy Joiner River Road Graphics 41628 River Road Ponchatoula, La.70454
Old enough to know better...Too young to resist. Posts: 1891 | From: Ponchatoula, LA | Registered: Nov 2000
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I used to live out in the country years back. My barn was full of corn snakes. I used to leave them alone, figured the would keep rodents away. My horse, however, wasn't as fond of them as me. I was always finding one in a half dozen pieces in his stall.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
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Sorry for you Bob. Sounds like a nice snake. Its sad that things like that happen but thats why they are freak accidents.
-------------------- Mike Pulskamp Pulskamp Arts Sacramento, CA mpulskamp@earthlink.net Posts: 165 | From: Sacramento, CA | Registered: Dec 2002
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What an amazing freak accident. I can understand why you are so sad today. It must have been awful seeing poor Stumpy struggling for his life and being unable to save him. If it's any comfort I'm sure Stumpy knows that you were doing everything you could. Sending you warmest sympathies.
-------------------- Dawn Ellis Signs by Dawn Long Beach, CA signsbydawn@aol.com
Trust yourself. Listen to the voice within. It is always right. Posts: 456 | From: Long Beach, California | Registered: Jan 2003
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oh man that's a shame...i know how much you love your snakes...my heart goes out to you...it's not your fault you did everything you could to save him...you're a kind soul bob.
-------------------- Karyn Bush Simply Not Ordinary, LLC Bartlett, NH 603-383-9955 www.snosigns.com info@snosigns.com Posts: 3516 | From: Bartlett, NH USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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After having to pull a Boa off a good friend of mine when I was young, I cant imagine anyone having a snake for a pet but man I can sympathise, when you have to watch a beloved pet die right in front of ya.
One of the sucky things in life I guess.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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This is from an article in the SF Chronicle, Home Section, March 15, 2003 ASK THE BUGMAN
RICHARD FAGERLUND, B.C.E. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
Next to insects, spiders and mice, the animals I get the most questions on are snakes. I don't mind these questions because I use to be interested in herpetology, but could never figure out how to make a living at it. I kept many snakes around the house for years, including venomous species.
My ex-wife, Sandy, had a lot of patience with me and my snakes. One time she was making her lunch for work and she reached in the freezer and pulled out a baggie of chiles (or what she thought were chiles - I kept mice in the freezer and the baggie was frosted over). When she went to lunch she put her sandwich in the microwave, and while talking to a co-worker, poured the "chiles" over the sandwich and turned the microwave on. Imagine her surprise when she opened the oven and found her sandwich covered in cooked mice!
On another occasion she was holding a small garter snake when the doorbell rang. Instead of walking over to the snake's cage and putting it away, she put it in her shirt. She wasn't wearing a bra at the time and at the exact moment she opened the door, the snake became agitated and bit her on her nipple. She screamed, ripped off her shirt and was standing in the door with a snake hanging from her breast with the Jehovah Witness' outside. The Jehovah Witness' ran down the sidewalk after dropping their tracts on the porch. I was on the couch laughing so hard I was crying. I finally had to remove the snake without hurting it (or her).
Finally on another occasion Sandy had to go to the restroom in the middle of the night. She didn't turn the light on and when she sat down she noticed a snake coiled around the base of the commode. Not knowing if it was a venomous species or not she was afraid to move. She started yelling for me, but in those days I drank a lot of adult beverages and was sound asleep (passed out). Finally when I woke and went to the bathroom, my wife was still sitting there and a perfectly harmless kingsnake was sound asleep around the base of the toilet. I had to carry my wife out of there as her legs were completely numb.
I no longer keep snakes around the house and I no longer drink adult beverages. During that period I was bitten nine times by venomous snakes (2 copperheads, 1 water moccasin and the rest rattlesnakes) and each time it was my fault as I was handling them.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Lordy yes Rick, thanks for making me laugh SO hard. I'm a very visual person, the expression on the Jehova's withess' face as the snake flailed from a flopping breast was priceless. Not to make light of Bob's loss, but so is the picture of him shredding his layzee boy to tatters, then dropping it into a huge hole later. I'm sorry, it must be late. It just strikes me as ironically hilarious.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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wow , i have a pet snake called slither. its a baby right now , still eatin pinkies. it funny how your affections can be attached to different things I have my dog scooter, my cat snip , my snake slither, and my bunny speedie. i love um all. i feel for ya
-------------------- sam kinnear stick um up signs redmond wa Posts: 93 | From: redmond wa | Registered: Jun 2003
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