At about 6.30pm (AEST) yesterday it was reported that a man swimming in Beening Creek when he was attacked by a Crocodile and fending off the Croc by punching it in the head. He sustained wounds to his hand and wrist that were not life threatening according to police. The Department of Environment and Resource Management is currently investigating.
Category Archives: Herp Attacks
Officer FIRED! over Cobra pictures
Animal Control Officer Rich DuBarton was fired Friday for releasing pictures and the video you see above to the media. “I guess he didn’t like someone stealing his thunder,” Said DuBarton about the incident. He was yelled at over the phone for releasing the picture and then on Friday received a termination letter listing no reason for the termination. He also claims that Carol Wagner director of the Health dept told officers last year not to warn resident about 5 cases of rabies. DuBarton also said “I’m an animal control officer,” DuBarton said. “I’m supposed to educate the public. No one ever told me I wasn’t allowed to.” He is also a certified police K9 instructor and Animal Control Officer for Bergen County.
The arrest of Chuck Hurd
Well unfortunately we have to get back on this topic but there is a great injustice going on in the reptile world right now and the media is just feeding on it. We are setting the record strait right now and saying that Chuck Hurd had NOTHING to do with the death of Wade Wesbrook and in fact authorities have made NO connection between the two. For some reason all the media outlets are saying he was arrested in connection with Wade’s death, simply not true. On the other hand Chuck was arrested on the illegal transport of snakes but Daily Reptile News spoke with Chuck on the phone and he explained the situation as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was coming home from an expo where the snakes are legal to his home where the snakes are legal and stopped off to visit a friend in a state where unfortunately the snakes were not legal. From our experience we expect once authorities investigate the circumstances all charges will be dropped.
The bad part of the story is according to quotes state authorities say this is just what could be the tip of the iceberg on a larger investigation into the illegal keeping of exotic snakes in Tennessee. Look out folks I see more regulations coming.
Unfortunately at press time no media outlets that are spreading the rumors would return my calls.
Video of Cobra that Bit its owner.
Born Free USA CEO speaks out on Cobra bite
Born Free CEO Will Travers spoke out agents the man who was bitten by his pet Cobra yesterday. He said snakes “pose severe safety risks to humans, including the transmission of deadly diseases, strangulations, and bites,” and went on to say “By their very nature, exotic animals are dangerous creatures. This New Jersey man kept three snakes as ‘pets,’ not only putting his own life at risk, but that of his family and community. Given the life these animals are forced to endure as pets, it is no surprise that they exhibit their natural instincts to the detriment of their owner and the public at large. These animals are time bombs waiting to explode.” And while here at DRN we like to see both sides of the story I find it hard not to say SUCK IT. I think Born Free just went on our dumb ass list next to the HSUS and PETA.
Man hospitalized after pet venomoid Cobra bite.
25 year old Eric Bortz Was hospitalized after being bitten by a pet Cobra of which he was told the venom sacks had been removed. After the bite he called the seller to confirm the sack were removed but it was soon apparent that he had in fact been envenomated. Other than a Cobra he also kept a Copperhead and a Timber Rattle Snake at the house “There’s no way a cobra would be legal in New Jersey,’’ said Larry Hajna, a spokesman for the state Division of Fish and Wildlife. At last report Eric was in Critical Condition.
UPDATE: Tennessee Copperhead bite
An update has come through about the bite that killed Wade Westbrook. Apparently Wade died of an allergic reaction from the snake bite. It is reported that he had been bitten before but professionals say its not uncommon to have no reaction on a first bite. Anaphylactic shock was listed as the cause of death on the death certificate.