Dunedin/Clearwater Cosmetic Dentist On Yet Another Rant About Irresponsible Snake Handling

So that looks like a pretty big, powerful snake I've stuck up there, doesn't it? Not a little black racer like we usually see here in our little suburban Tampa areas. In fact, we're rather used to seeing snakes here. Not so much up north.

So imagine how Harley Burgess felt when he found an eight foot long reticulated python under the engine of his truck. Does Harley live in Malaysia? No. Thailand? Laos? Cambodia? Vietnam? Singapore? Nope. Harley lives in Maine, just about as far north in the United States as you can go.

For extra fun, Harley had his young grandson with him when he found the snake under his truck. This is the second giant python found in Maine in a week, the first was an 8 footer found by a woman in a washing machine.

Clearly, these snake findings are no accident. Are we supposed to believe a snake opened the washing machine, slithered on in and then neatly closed the door behind him? One other interesting fact, reticulated pythons are illegal in Maine, unless you have a permit. Which I'm pretty sure you would need to own a zoo or some other type of ecological environment to acquire.

My initial thought was "Pythons aren't venomous, so it couldn't have been that dangerous". But then, I figured, since it was in the news, maybe I was wrong. And I was! I did what I always do when I want to find out about something... Wikipedia.

It turns out that the largest of these snakes can indeed attack and eat a human. Usually not a full grown human, but children and teenagers. The reported human attacks almost all occur in the wild in Asia. Here's the thing though, the people are already dead when the snake starts to eat them. Pythons do not crush their victims to death, as I had initially thought, they suffocate them. I guess crushing involves internal hemorraging and other yucky stuff. The largest pythons can grow to 32 feet. That's roughly the same as a decent size yacht. Just to put it in perspective.

Here's another disturbing fact... they farm these snakes. They farm them to the extent that in Indonesia, pythons outnumber humans 15-1. Good thing they lack the communication skills needed for a revolution. They farm them to make snake skin boots for our cowboys and Prada purses for our rich ladies.

So, now that we know a little bit about this snake... we can examine what the heck it was doing roaming freely in MAINE. My best guess? Either someone thinks this is all pretty funny, or they're upset that their internet order didn't arrive at its final destination.

What I do know is that we need to better regulate the trade of these dangerous creatures. In just the last several weeks this is the third or fourth story I've read about dangerous snakes, not indiginous to the US being found in strange places. Luckily, no one's been hurt, but are we going to wait until someone is?

Harley, the man who found the snake under his truck, is still pretty traumatized. He shakes when he thinks about the snake under his truck, and he has nightmares about the snake getting his grandson. Hopefully, he'll be ok. I know folks with dental phobia, and I think snakes are even scarier.

Soooo... reptile free office. We do however, have a cuddle labradoodle named Tildie. Come visit her! Call 727.733.1175 for a free exam and xrays. Usually $257, they're yours for free. Or visit us on the web at www.allaboutsmiles.org. See you Monday!