Venomous snake bite lands man in hospital, SC cops say. What they found at his home
A South Carolina man recently was hospitalized after being bitten by a snake, and more than a dozen venomous reptiles were found in his home, according to the Florence Police Department.
It wasn’t an invasion of snakes. Instead, it’s believe that the “wild or dangerous animals” were being kept as pets, police said Friday in a news release.
An investigation began at about 2:30 a.m. Friday, when a man reported being bitten by a snake and asked for medical attention, according to the release. Emergency responders went to a home in the 800 block of Marion Street, and took the man to an area hospital, police said.
Later that morning, officers learned that the victim privately owned a collection of venomous snakes and was bitten by one of them, according to the release.
It was determined that the snakes were being kept at the home, so a search was conducted to determine if there was a threat to the public’s safety, police said.
A family member authorized police to collect the snakes. Some 14 snakes — along with a domestic cat — were seized by animal control, according to the release.
Information on the specific species of the snakes was not available, and there was no word what animal control is doing with the reptiles. Police did not say if the snake involved in the attack was identified, and there was no information about anything that might have led to the snake bite.
No other injuries were reported and police said they do not believe any threat to public safety exists.
As of Friday night, the snake owner was still receiving medical care and further information on his condition was not available.
