OT: Woman Who Kept Poisonous Snakes in Home Found Dead
Patty
with puncture wounds to her hand. It is believed she was bitten by an
African viper.
By ANDREW BLANKSTEIN, ROBERTO J. MANZANO,
Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
VAN NUYS--A woman who kept a menagerie of poisonous snakes,
piranhas and other exotic animals in her Van Nuys trailer was found
dead after apparently being bitten by a rare African viper, authorities
said Thursday.
Anita Finch, 33, was found Wednesday night in her living room
curled in a fetal position with two puncture wounds in the back of her
hand, said Scott Carrier, a spokesman for the Los Angeles county
coroner's office.
She was clutching a note that read "Northridge hospital ask for
ICU [intensive care unit]," he said.
'Whatever happened, happened very suddenly," Carrier said. "She
obviously did not get a chance to call 911."
Carrier said the bite marks suggest the attack may have come from
a rare foot-long Gaboon viper owned by Finch.
The multicolored snake, which can take on a black, purplish or
pink appearance, has the longest fangs of any snake, according to Los
Angeles Zoo officials. The fangs, which can grow up to 2 inches, enable
them to pump venom deep into the veins of their prey.
Los Angeles Animal Control officials said Finch had 11 caged
serpents, six piranhas and several goldfish in her home at the Vicabob
trailer park at 7560 Woodman Ave.
In addition to the Gaboon viper, authorities confiscated and later
euthanized four rattlesnakes, a hognosed sand viper and two copperhead
snakes, Carrier said. Other reptiles found at the residence included
gopher and king snakes.
Family members said Finch, who lived alone, had long tried to get
a job with the Los Angeles Zoo and was an avid snake collector.
"She was really an expert in snake-handling," said Finch's mother,
Tania Johnston, who lives in Camarillo.
Dan Knapp, general manager of the city Department of Animal
Services, said keeping poisonous snakes is generally against the law.
"I know of no instance where an official with the state Department
of Fish and Game, which would regulate this activity, would issue a
permit to allow these types of venomous snakes," Knapp said. "They are
illegal [to possess] in the state of California."
Acquaintances said Finch would often handle the snakes by hand, a
practice that experts say is unsafe.
"She thought she was immune to the venom at this point in her
life," said Finch's sister, Karin Taylor.
Steve Schatt, vice president of the Los Angeles-based Southwestern
Herpetologists Society, has known Finch for 10 years and said his
friend had been bitten at least six times by her rattlesnakes.
Schatt said Finch studied geology in college but became interested
in reptiles 15 years ago and began collecting them, especially
rattlesnakes. He said she grew very protective of the animals.
"If she saw one that was run over by a car, she freaked out,"
Schatt said. "She would take them home to try to keep them alive."
This past year, he said, she began acquiring more exotic--and
dangerous--serpents. Two months ago she brought home a Gaboon viper
from Texas.
"I'm not sure if she traded for it, paid for it or it was given to
her," Schatt said. "But the minute I found out about it, I told her to
get rid of it. I told her many times, it's deadly."
A bite by one of the vipers is usually fatal within two to four
hours, he added.
Schatt said Finch never used snake sticks to handle her reptiles.
"She used her hands every time. I'm surprised this didn't happen
years ago."
One neighbor said he was surprised to learn the victim's death may
have been due to a snake bite.
"With the number of children that are around in the area it's
surprising that these type of pets can be kept in a residential area,"
he said. "What if one had gotten loose and one the kids was bitten."
Finch was found by a neighbor, Kerry Bittner, about 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday. Bittner also said Finch had been bitten in the past.
"She was careless," Bittner said.
Carrier said a time of death had not been established, but that
Finch's puncture wounds would be examined today to help determine the
cause of death and which snake may have been responsible.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Volfie
Uh, no, Mom, she wasn't.
Volfie -> duh!
Slimpickins
Volfie wrote in message <19991218052428...@ng-cp1.aol.com>...
>> "She was really an expert in snake-handling," said Finch's mother,
>
>Uh, no, Mom, she wasn't.
>
>Volfie -> duh!
*** Yes Volfie, I agree. After reading the article, I thought, "Live by the
posionus snake, Die by the posionus snake" ;-). It's sad, but sadder in
that if she'd never had those Dangerous serpants around, then She would
still be around. Some things* are just not made to be pets, and you'd don't
have too been to brillant to understand That. * Slim
George Byrd
on "Re: OT: Woman Who Kept Poisonous Snakes in Home Found Dead"
" Slimpickins" <Sl...@work.com> wrote:
>Volfie wrote in message <19991218052428...@ng-cp1.aol.com>...
>>> "She was really an expert in snake-handling," said Finch's mother,
>>
>>Uh, no, Mom, she wasn't.
>>
>>Volfie -> duh!
"Close" but no cigar, huh? But I bet she didn't have any trouble with
burglars. The gaboon viper is a big snake, has the longest fangs of
any viper, and apparently injects a lot of venom. Its venom is both a
hemotoxin and a neurotoxin. LD-50 for venom is 5.2 mg/kg. That's
about 1/3 gram for a 130# human. Antivenin exists.
For Viperidae Bitis Gabonica pics, see
<http://www.pitt.edu/~mcs2/herp/snake.pics/gaboon_viper.jpg>, and
<http://homepages.webleicester.co.uk/fester/Bitis%20gabonica.htm>,
and
<http://www.selu.com/~bio/wildlife/reptile/gaboon_viper/gaboon_viper01.html>,
and <http://www.diamondreptile.com/adult_female_gaboon.html>.
She apparently wasn't the only person to ever keep gaboon vipers
either. See <http://www.cobras.org/gaboon_bite.htm>.
For an even more bizarre "story within a story" about rilly rilly
stupid burglars and gaboons, see
<http://www.igorilla.com/gorilla/animal/Deadly_snake_bites_museum_handler..html>..
>*** Yes Volfie, I agree. After reading the article, I thought, "Live by the
>posionus snake, Die by the posionus snake" ;-). It's sad, but sadder in
>that if she'd never had those Dangerous serpants around, then She would
>still be around. Some things* are just not made to be pets, and you'd don't
>have too been to brillant to understand That. * Slim
I wonder if the people who came in to recover her body were either
naive or scared witless that one of those critters was loose in the
house.
Maybe the gaboon viper was cranky because it was constipated.
See <http://www.academicpress.com/inscight/01221999/grapha.htm>.
G "yeah, right" B
--
Opinions above are NOT those of APAN, Inc. & are NOT legal advice.
"Hain't we got all the fools in town on our side?
An' hain't that a big enough majority in any town?"
<< Mark Twain, _Huckleberry_Finn_ >>
Myranya
wrote:
>
>Volfie wrote in message <19991218052428...@ng-cp1.aol.com>...
>>> "She was really an expert in snake-handling," said Finch's mother,
>>
>>Uh, no, Mom, she wasn't.
>>
>>Volfie -> duh!
>
>
>*** Yes Volfie, I agree. After reading the article, I thought, "Live by the
>posionus snake, Die by the posionus snake" ;-). It's sad, but sadder in
>that if she'd never had those Dangerous serpants around, then She would
>still be around. Some things* are just not made to be pets, and you'd don't
>have too been to brillant to understand That. * Slim
<snip>
I disagree. The article clearly states there are ways to handle the
snakes more safely. This woman didn't just *keep* the snakes, but she
insisted on handling them *by hand*. The story strongly suggest it was
unsafe handling that killed her, not the fact that she had the snakes.
The quote about 'believing she was immune' indicates extremely
carelessness, too. Even if she had build up a resistance against
rattlesnake poison, which may perhaps be possible, it is no doubt a
very different poison than this other snake.
I am very sad the snakes were killed, and I do not see why that was
necessary. Zoos or other snake enthousiasts could have taken them.
Granted, a poisonous snake is more dangerous than most non-poisonous
animals but when handled with care it is not so dangerous or so
impossible that the snakes should be killed for it. Nor do I believe a
snake is more dangerous after 'tasting blood' or something like some
other animals like lions or even dogs may be. The owner got herself
killed primarily by her own stupidity and over-confidence, the snake
was just the thing she was stupid and over-confident with.
Myranya.
myr...@knoware.nl
http://www.knoware.nl/users/myranya/
http://www.colonycity.com/home/Sheriam
(if you immigrate please use Sheriam as reference :))
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Send me spam now and be certain I will *not ever* purchase any
product from your company or do business with you. I will, however,
sent your ISP a nice letter of complaint. Happy spamming.
AgonyInBlk
>I disagree. The article clearly states there are ways to handle the
>snakes more safely. This woman didn't just *keep* the snakes, but she
>insisted on handling them *by hand*. The story strongly suggest it was
>unsafe handling that killed her, not the fact that she had the snakes.>>
Even *experts* get bitten. A guy here in FL where I work used to work with a
reknown snake handler. Apparently he's been on the DIscovery Channel a bunch of
times, etc. He's been bitten so many times that he *does* have a tolerance to
extremely poisonous snakes, to the point that when a serious "layman" gets
bitten, a few have been treated with the anti-venom produced by this guy's
blood. I wish I had his name handy, but it's twenty after one and I'm not
calling my friend to find out this guy's name. Anyway, the point is that this
guy has 40+ years of experience, he's an *expert*, but on occasion he's
apparently not as fast the critters, plain and simple.
This woman may have indeed been an expert, she just wasn't as quick or accurate
as she expected this time out.
best,
JM
(Who would of course, rather be an expert at, say, acccounting, where an error
doesn't carry quite the same consequences...)
___________________________________________
The Nightmare never ends...
AGONY IN BLACK
http://www.mediasi.com/chantingmonks
Come worship at the new house of horrors
___________________________________________
Volfie
> The story strongly suggest it was
>unsafe handling that killed her, not the fact that she had the snakes.
Well she sure couldn't handle the snakes if she didn't have them, could she?
And you said exactly the same thing I said in my response which you quoted
before your post but it took you lots longer to say it.
Remember this?
>>>> "She was really an expert in snake-handling," said Finch's mother,
>>>
>>>Uh, no, Mom, she wasn't.
See how easy that was?
Volfie -> sweet, clean and to the point. 'nuff said
Big Shirley
>Myranya commented:
>
>>I disagree. The article clearly states there are ways to handle the
>>snakes more safely. This woman didn't just *keep* the snakes, but she
>>insisted on handling them *by hand*. The story strongly suggest it was
>>unsafe handling that killed her, not the fact that she had the snakes.>>
>
>Even *experts* get bitten. A guy here in FL where I work used to work with a
>reknown snake handler. Apparently he's been on the DIscovery Channel a bunch of
>times, etc. He's been bitten so many times that he *does* have a tolerance to
>extremely poisonous snakes, to the point that when a serious "layman" gets
>bitten, a few have been treated with the anti-venom produced by this guy's
>blood. I wish I had his name handy, but it's twenty after one and I'm not
>calling my friend to find out this guy's name. Anyway, the point is that this
>guy has 40+ years of experience, he's an *expert*, but on occasion he's
>apparently not as fast the critters, plain and simple.
>
>This woman may have indeed been an expert, she just wasn't as quick or accurate
>as she expected this time out.
"A bite by one of the vipers is usually fatal within two to four
hours, he added."
That's a quote from the original article. Now it seems to me that if she
were an expert she'd have had enough expertise to get to a phone
within two hours.
AgonyInBlk
>Seems to me that if she were an "expert" she would have had antivenin on hand
>in the
>fridge for such emergencies.... Perhaps she couldn't face the inevitable
>loss of
>her "pets" when she went for treatment and tried to explain just exactly what
>had
>bitten her....
>
Apparently police found her with a note in hand (don't know which one :) )
which had some instruction for when she would be taken to the hospital. Either
she reacted badly and died by the phone, or tried to treat it herself and then
wrote her note.
Point is, she may have been an expert, and even experts aren't perfect. (Or,
too bright :) )
best,
JM
Myranya
<snip>
>Well she sure couldn't handle the snakes if she didn't have them, could she?
>And you said exactly the same thing I said in my response which you quoted
>before your post but it took you lots longer to say it.
<snip>
I didn't reply to your post, I replied to the post below that. I guess
I should've snipped yours out. I made two points in my post, yes I did
repeat the one you made that she was careless but I also said that I
disagree with the opinion that keeping poisonous snakes is an
unacceptable risk, even if you're usually more careful with them than
this woman apparently was.
I know I'm not short and to the point, because I've noticed 'yes' 'no'
'is too' 'is not' discussions with little or no arguments as to _why_
are usually very ineffective. If you don't want to read it, then
don't. :)
Myranya
>Myranya commented:
>
>>I disagree. The article clearly states there are ways to handle the
>>snakes more safely. This woman didn't just *keep* the snakes, but she
>>insisted on handling them *by hand*. The story strongly suggest it was
>>unsafe handling that killed her, not the fact that she had the snakes.>>
>
>Even *experts* get bitten. A guy here in FL where I work used to work with a
>reknown snake handler. Apparently he's been on the DIscovery Channel a bunch of
>times, etc. He's been bitten so many times that he *does* have a tolerance to
>extremely poisonous snakes, to the point that when a serious "layman" gets
>bitten, a few have been treated with the anti-venom produced by this guy's
>blood. I wish I had his name handy, but it's twenty after one and I'm not
>calling my friend to find out this guy's name. Anyway, the point is that this
>guy has 40+ years of experience, he's an *expert*, but on occasion he's
>apparently not as fast the critters, plain and simple.
<snip>
Yes, yes, I'm not saying experts can never get bitten. Notice I said
'more' safely, not 'completely' safely. What I am saying is that many
things *in this story* seem to indicate *this woman* was careless.
We all take risks in everyday life. We get into cars and drive. We
cross roads when we walk. Many people have hobbies which are to some
extend dangerous, like rock climbing or sailing or whatever. I don't
agree with what some people say that keeping poisonous snakes is an
unacceptable risk, any more than any of these things are an
unacceptable risk.
Accidents *do* happen even to the careful. We can't, and shouldn't,
try to live our lives so we never take a risk, it'd be boring to death
and also very hard to even go to work and buy food without crossing
the street (and risking a traffic accident).
However, if someone gets killed because they drive while stone drunk,
or close their eyes while crossing the road, or going rock climbing on
a difficult slope with no protective gear, or go sailing when there's
weather that's much too rough for their boat, then it isn't that
activity that got them killed, then it's their stupidity that got them
killed.
>This woman may have indeed been an expert, she just wasn't as quick or accurate
>as she expected this time out.
That's not the impression I got from both the article in this thread
and the other one, listing all the careless things she did with the
snakes, like letting them loose while she cleaned the cages, using her
bare hands, etc.
Volfie
>'is too' 'is not' discussions with little or no arguments as to _why_
>are usually very ineffective. If you don't want to read it, then
>don't. :)
>
>Myranya.
OOPS! Sorry about that cranky note, Myranya. I cancelled it in AOL but that
does not mean that it gets cancelled in the other ISPs. I realized it was
cranky without a purpose about 2 seconds after I hit the send key.
Volfie -> sorry
AgonyInBlk
<< I know I'm not short and to the point, because I've noticed 'yes' 'no'
'is too' 'is not' discussions with little or no arguments as to _why_
are usually very ineffective. If you don't want to read it, then
don't. :) >>
Please don't change if somebody whines about length, myranya, some of us
appreciate the few decent discussions and debates that last more than a few
postings before the flames start. :)
Best,
AgonyInBlk
Volfie, and it was before I knew yours was the post in question. On aol, I
never saw it, anyway.
Didn't want you to think I was referring to you as the whiner(s).
We both know better. :)
best,
Volfie
>I posted to myranya about not changing her style when people whine about
>length
>Volfie, and it was before I knew yours was the post in question. On aol, I
>never saw it, anyway.
I did cancel it on AOL. Unfortunately, once cancelled there it does not
necessarily follow through to other servers. Make note AOLers: A cancelled
post does not insure it won't be seen by non-AOLers.
>Didn't want you to think I was referring to you as the whiner(s).
>
>We both know better. :)
No problem and thanks. Like I said, I was *cranky*. I tried to undo what I
could but it had its limitations.
Volfie -> who's beginning to think Ebenezer Scrooge had the right damned
idea...
AgonyInBlk
>Volfie -> who's beginning to think Ebenezer Scrooge had the right damned
>idea...
Well, you could always give out snakes for Christmas... :()
Best,
Myranya
>OOPS! Sorry about that cranky note, Myranya. I cancelled it in AOL but that
>does not mean that it gets cancelled in the other ISPs. I realized it was
>cranky without a purpose about 2 seconds after I hit the send key.
>
>Volfie -> sorry
Hi Volfie,
No problem :) We're all cranky sometimes. I did get kinda off-topic,
too. But the way people often jump at unknown risks (like keeping
snakes) and never even think about how they take lots of risks they're
used to (like driving a car, especially now it's winter in icy
conditions) is one of my pet peeves...
JM, thanks for the support too :)
I'm a bit of an occasional reader here, skip most of the regular
murders and such, but I like to read and comment on the more curious
cases.
AgonyInBlk
<< I'm a bit of an occasional reader here, skip most of the regular
murders and such, but I like to read and comment on the more curious
cases. >>
Oh, just about any ol' murder can get quite curious once it hits the boards!
:)
best,