Mom Pleads to Endangerment in Girl's Snake Attack

[boawoman]

Reported in Pet Product News, March Issue, 2002
The mother of an 8-year old Pennsylvania girl killed by the family's pet Burmese python has pleaded guilty to one count of child endangerment and reportedly plans to testify against her estranged husband, Pittsburg police said.
According to the police, March Mountain will be placed on probation for two years in exchange for her testimony against Robert Mountain, 31,Amber Mountains father.
Police said Robert is mainly responsible for the girl's death. He had said he only taped the top of the snake's aquarium shut before leaving for work on the day of the incident in August.
He has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering the welfare of a child. Robert Mountain's attorney says the child's mother is also to blame for her death, because she neglected to watch the child in Robert's absence. The 11 foot long, 26.5 pound snake escaped from its cage and asphyxiated the child in the kitchen of the family's duplex in Irwin, Pa. on August 22, police said.


This is indeed a sad story. But....the thing I found most interesting was the size of the snake. I consider a 26 pound snake not very threatening---but apparently the snake got wrapped around her neck, and she could not free herself and died. So, all you snake people out there with children, be a responsible snake owner. Lock your cages, and do not be lax by just taping on a top. Our right to own snakes is contantly questioned by athority-----let's not give them more ammunition. Sharon

[crystalmoondragon]

How sad that a child died in this instance. We do have to take full responsability for our snakes and reptiles, and more so when they are large. It is all on the parnets for not doing a better job of that, but saddly most people will blame the snake and not where it needs to be. We have to protect our babies (human and reptile).
But i like you would not think that a 26 lb. snake would be that much of a danger usually.

crystalmoondragon

Yes that is very terrible about that little girl. Where does the problem lie ? I'll tell you !!! It's the common local pet shops. Snakes like reticulated pythons, Burmese, African rocks, anacondas and Amythstine's DO NOT BELONG in PET SH0PS !!! to be sold to the common inexperienced person that on a whim decides that he or she would like a pet giant snake to be cool, or to the beginner just starting out ! They belong at reptile dealers and breeders facility to be sold ONLY to the experienced reptile hobbyist like ourselfs, the advanced and responceable group of boaphiles. the common local neighborhood pet shop does not care whom or who they sell these big snakes to, and most don't know jack about the animals in question themselves! Folks, these people ( the pet shops) are going to ruin our hobby if this kind of crap continues. The four snakes I just mentioned are just as dangerous as any venomous reptile, IF THEY FALL INTO THE WRONG HANDS !!! This kind of thing is giving animal rights groups like Peta and the humane society of united states ammunition to attack us, the true reptile hobbyist. That makes me sad, because I love my reptiles and my reptile hobby and would hate for it to be stoped because of foolishness. Pet shops should and have the right to sell snakes, but please don't sell the big boys to the inexperienced common person. Ball pythons and colubrids are fine for the beginner or the inexperienced to start with in my opinion. But if one must get a giant, please read and study about these animals and learn how to handle them expertly before you make a purchase. The thing that scares me the most is that boa constrictors fall into the catagory of large constricting snakes, even though they have a perfect track record for no fatalities. I would hate to see my animals get banned from ownership, because of things that are happening with the very large boids. Now, I'm not picking on the python people, they are very experienced and responceable in there hobby. I'm talking about the inexperienced that are selling and buying these kind of animals and ruining it for the large boid keepers and other reptile hobbyist included.

Jim

[redtailboas]

Jim

I just have to say " DITTO ".