Stories like this one sicken me, and not just because I am the mother of a young child:
Earlier this month a 2-year-old girl living in a rural community located about 50 miles northwest of Orlando was killed by a 12-foot long snake.
The toddler wasn’t traipsing around in the woods or visiting an exotic animal zoo. Rather, the little girl was asleep in her bed when the massive albino Burmese python strangled her in the middle of the night.
According to police, the snake escaped from a holding tank in the girl’s home.
Yes, the snake shared living space with a toddler in a single-family home.
Apparently, the python was the pet of the child’s mother’s boyfriend, who didn’t ever consider that it would be dangerous for a child and a snake to cohabitate under the same roof.
Police say the python apparently broke free in the middle of the night, entered the girl’s bedroom and attacked her. The mom’s boyfriend then stabbed his pet when he found it on top of the tot.
According to authorities the boyfriend was “uncontrollably distraught” by the circumstances. Apparently, 911 operators could barely understand him when he called for help. Still, no amount of tears is going to bring that innocent little girl back to life.
Police reportedly questioned the boyfriend and say he truly never considered his snake would harm someone. Be that as it may, he could still face child endangerment charges. Frankly, I think he should. After all, what in the world would possess an individual to house a deadly 12-foot long python anywhere near a young child?
Florida wildlife officials speaking out about the incident say that these types of tragedies are exactly why states need to stop selling licenses for dangerous, non-native pets.
According to records, there may be as many as 150,000 Burmese pythons, which are native to Southeast Asia, living in the wild in the Florida Everglades, where they have no natural predator. Wildlife experts say most of the snakes got there after being dumped by pet owners who no longer wanted them.
Wildlife experts say pythons can grow to more than 16 feet, live for 30 years and eat wading birds and small animals. Oh, and they can strangle young children too. Wonder if the little girl’s mom knew that before allowing her boyfriend to bring his snake into her house?