Fortunately, the python wasn't wrapped around the child's neck. The owner of said python should get the h*ll out of town before the parents and neighbors get to him.

The snake is being held....... if it needs help getting out; I hear Zimmerman's attorney has been raising money to bail snakes out of jail.

I'm willing to bet that the parents of the kid are also the owners of the snake. Extremely unlikely that it would have "wandered" in from somewhere else in the apartment complex. My guess is that they have the snake as a pet and somehow it got out of its cage and encountered the child. Then the parents tossed the cage and other evidence of ownership to avoid child endangerment charges.

I hear Zimmerman's attorney has been raising money to bail snakes out of jail.

BigAl Las Vegas - you are the only snake here for trying to sidetrack the discussion to a totally different issue. Grow up, climb up out of your parents' basement, and get a job.

"Are you kidding me? A two foot ball python wouldn't be able to cut off the circulation in someone's hand, let alone strangle a child. Even a full grown ball python would pose no threat. This story can't be real."

A two foot python could cut the circulation off in a 1-year old child. A full grown ball python could kill an adult if the adult was asleep.

Yes, I do happen to own a ball python. It is very inexpensive to purchase an enclosure the snake can not get out of. This is negligence of the owner that the pet will end up paying for.

Sarah Haynes-6324415....."Are you kidding me?"

Nah, no kidding. Pythons don't like people, they just eat ALLIGATORS:

• http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=930769n

Time to shop early and get your phyton for Christmas.

Alex,

This is negligence of the owner that the pet will end up paying for

Whatever price the snake faces pales in comparison to what the baby and his parents have paid.

This is a BALL python, not a burmese python. A two foot ball python couldn't even kill a rat, let alone a human of any size. A full grown ball python could MAYBE kill an adult rat. The ignorance here is astounding.

Didn't stop it from BITING a child though did it Sarah?

Look, I have owned several ball pythons in the past, and know from experience that they are escape artists. A two-foot ball python would not be able to strangle a child, they just aren't that strong. An adult ball python at 4-4 1/2 feet long would be able to strangle a sleeping adult, but only if that adult was a sound sleeper. They are strong, but it would take a long time for one to kill an adult, and there is a good chance that adult would be awakened long before he or she would be choked out. Fully grown ball pythons can eat full-grown rats without a problem. When the ball pythons I had were fully grown, they would tend to eat two full-grown rats at a singular feeding. While this ball python bit the child's toe, a child at one year of age was too big for this snake, and the only real reason why this snake might have attempted to eat the child's toe was because it hadn't been fed in a really long time. Ball pythons can go up to 6 months between feedings, and will start getting agitated at the 3 month mark. For those who own snakes, you can usually tell when a snake is hungry by watching it in action. If the snake gets aggressive while it is normally docile or timid, feed the poor thing.

No way you're going to convince me that the python (despite it's "small size") couldn't choke the child. I can't believe these idiotic people poo-hooing this incident...

I don't give two @!$%#ing @!$%#s what kind of python this was! It attacked a baby you bunch of creeps! It would never have lived had it been my child! You want a snake for a pet? Make sure it doesn't get into other peoples homes.

I am sure that this is one lost pet that the owner is not likely to try and claim. It would be far cheaper to just go buy another python than to pay all the bills that would come with taking responsibility for the python. Unless someone turns the owner in, I doubt very much that he will ever be identified.

I am just glad that the baby did not suffer and permanent injuries from this incident. The python could have just as easily wrapped itself around the baby's neck and strangled the kid.

I am sure that this is one lost pet that the owner is not likely to try and claim. It would be far cheaper to just go buy another python than to pay all the bills that would come with taking responsibility for the python. Unless someone turns the owner in, I doubt very much that he will ever be identified.

While that's true, only a chickensh*$ dirtbag would NOT take responsibility for the problem.

Unfortunately, in today's day and age it's 'acceptable' to fail to step up and take responsibility.

I am surprised that this happened in Illinois. I thought all of the idiot python owners were down in FL. At least that is where we normally hear about them.

@Hot in Miami

Is that correct? Don't all of you have a python epidemic down there or is that exaggerated?

A two foot ball python could NOT have strangled a child. Even a full grown, four foot ball python wouldn't be any threat. And ball pythons do not seek out humans. They are very shy, and an escaped ball python would simply hide. Their name comes from the fact that they curl into a ball when frightened instead of biting. This is ridiculous.

I am surprised that this happened in Illinois. I thought all of the idiot python owners were down in FL. At least that is where we normally hear about them.

@Hot in Miami

Is that correct? Don't all of you have a python epidemic down there or is that exaggerated?

You realize that we are talking about a BALL Python here right? They are available in just about any pet shop and usually don't get bigger than 3 ft. (the one in the article was only 2ft) I have a ball python and while I can understand the concern about it possibly wrapping around a baby's neck, they are harmless snakes, their teeth are so small you can't even really see them and they rarely bite. When they do bite they leave an impression of their mouths around whatever they bit, it bleeds a little and that's it. They are not venomous. Not exactly something that you need to run to the doctors office over. They are however little escape artists and you need to properly secure their cage. Once they get out they go and hide anywhere warm... Under the fridge usually.

Those "idiots" in Florida aren't having problems with BALL Pythons they are having problems with idiots buying Burmese Pythons that grow to the point where they can easily swallow a small child... without realizing that their pet snake will one day be able to eat a small child... Then instead of doing the responsible thing and finding a home with someone trained to handle a snake like that, they let it go and it eats the neighbors dog or something.

Not all Pythons are these giant horror movie snakes of doom (which snakes don't really get "sci-fi channel horror movie size" anyway) My Ball Python pretty much just hangs out. Him and my cat are buddy's.

Bottom line is before you get ANY PET be it a cat, a dog a fish or a giant snake of DOOM make sure you know what you are in for.

Hot-in-Miami gets chased around by snakes daily.

I thought all of the idiot python owners were down in FL.

myspellcheckerisbroken - you are the only "idiot" around here for insulting an entire state. Does that make you feel important? It only makes you look foolish.

We have a ball python, and I agree that there is something very fishy about this story.

Maybe the apartment owners are fishing for a lawsuit??

"A two foot ball python could NOT have strangled a child. Even a full grown, four foot ball python wouldn't be any threat. And ball pythons do not seek out humans. They are very shy, and an escaped ball python would simply hide. Their name comes from the fact that they curl into a ball when frightened instead of biting. This is ridiculous."

If the snake was slithering through the crib and the baby's leg twitched, it could have startled the snake causing it to strike. The bite is harmless, but the constricting wouldn't have been at the age of the child. My ball python has struck and bit me on occasion if I pull him out of the box too soon after feeding. While they are very shy, it doesn't mean they are harmless. They deserve the respect we should have for any wild creature.

Gasp! But all ball pythons are shy and harmless and can't sqeeze hard enough to hurt a baby/toddler....haven't you read the comments by the idiots, ahem I mean experts, posting here?!

Seriously thanks for posting something to counter the rest of the drivel.

Sarah Haynes-6324415

A two foot ball python could NOT have strangled a child. Even a full grown, four foot ball python wouldn't be any threat. And ball pythons do not seek out humans. They are very shy, and an escaped ball python would simply hide. Their name comes from the fact that they curl into a ball when frightened instead of biting. This is ridiculous.

Well guess what? This so called "shy scared" python wrapped itself around a SLEEPING child and BIT it, the parents should've killed it.

So you believe everything you read? When I say there is no way this happened, I mean that this story is not true. I have owned ball pythons for several years now, and the chances of a ball python seeking out a sleeping child and then biting it are astronomically low. Maybe it was seeking warmth and the child kicked and startled it. But that too, is extraordinarily unlikely.

Actually I rarely believe "everything I read" but I believe this story, let's think about this rationally, YOUR snakes I'm hoping are well fed and well treated correct? Now THIS particular one is a loose one meaning it hasn't eaten in a while, that's why people shouldn't keep WILD ANIMALS as pets, they become incapable of searching out their own natural food and will take whatever they can get.

Though chances are very remote, I could see it happening. The Ball Python may have been raised on a diet of live "pinkies" (newborn mice/rats) which would look very much like a baby's toes or even foot. The Python may have gone there looking for warmth then struck out at the baby's foot when it twitched. Though I don't see the Python climbing up into a crib and seeking out the baby. The story does seem a little far fetched as described.

Snakes don't come up through the toilet. Jeez! Try finding one example of this occurring that has been verified.

So would my wife - but then I'd be beating the damm thing to death if I came across one like this.

It's not that I dislike snakes that much - it's simply one will NOT get away with harming my child without paying the price. (of course, I'd be hunting me down one former snake owner for the same purpose too...)

lol Sgt that's what my husband said too! I think my anger of something hurting my child would over ride my fear and I'd kill the damn thing!

Thank you for your service :)

Big Black Dog

The snake is being held at the Coles County animal shelter.

I'm with ya, Dog!!! That would be one dead snake just for showing up, let alone attacking a kid!

Snake was just doin' what God made it to do.

Good one Jim! That was a God's will.

Ball pythons can and do bite, try not feeding it for a few weeks and waving your index finger in front of his face.

Usually though they are pretty docile and are for the most part terrified of anything that is even a little bit bigger than them.

As far as hospital bills... what the $50 bucks for the doctors visit and .25 cents for a band-aid? (well if they got the band-aid from the doctor it was probably a $25 band-aid...) It is a 2ft baby ball python... not a spitting cobra, I think the kid will live.

As far as the police going dumpster diving for a discarded snake tank... Umm... I think they might have slightly more important things to do than go after the irresponsible owner of a harmless baby ball python. I am sure there are some drug dealers or murderers or home invaders or something that they need to be doing (perhaps writing a traffic ticket?)

And yes I know the snake COULD have wrapped around the baby's neck... but it didn't. If it had then it might be a different issue. And even if it did (and this is coming from someone who regularly has a much larger ball python wrapped around his neck...) I highly doubt that a 2ft ball python could really strangle a one year old to death, and even if it could, why would it even try?

Babies are warm.The snake was probably just looking for a place to hide and curled up next to the baby.I'm thinking the baby rolled over on the snake and it got scared and tried to defend itself.The snake had probably been in the crib for a while before it happened too.

I/we/a friend had a ball python and it never blah blah blah.....it's an animal. The actions of one don't dictate the actions of all.

I agree, no way is that a good pet.

All snakes should be killed, pets as well as in the wild.

All snakes should be killed, pets as well as in the wild.

You do realize that snakes help to reduce the populations of rats and other vermin, right pittsburghboy?

So what do you consider a pet? A cat or a dog? Some people keep ferocious gigantic rottweilers, pit bulls, chow chows (is that how you spell it?) and German shepherds to name just a few. I think a dog is way more of a threat to a one year old than a 2 ft snake.

And as UMGator has said, snakes are a vital part of the ecosystem that keep the population of rodents and such in check... sort of like how spiders keep the insect population in check.

I am sorry that you guys are afraid of snakes (and probably spiders too..) but that doesn't mean you have the right to go out and rain on the parade of those of us that aren't little sissy's that run screaming from a harmless creature that is 1\100th your size...

Not much use to the ecosystem if they're kept in a cage Redwizard.

I can hear the hippies already... "Why do you have to be so cruel? It was only doing what comes naturally."

That's all it was doing. You sound like you really get off on killing things. What a pathetic way to live, if living is what it is you do at all.

People care too damned much for Dangerous animals. It should be against the law to own the things anyway. They let the chimps live that Bit that guys ears and arm off. They should have hung those chimps or shot them. Shows they care more about a monkey than a human.

.

They let the chimps live that Bit that guys ears and arm off.

Tarzan - If you had bothered to read the entire story, you would know that the student who was attacked by the chimps had crossed into an area that he was not supposed to enter. It's not the fault of the chimps if they do what comes naturally if they feel threatened any more than it is the fault of uneducated people for posting ignorant comments like yours.

People care too damned much for Dangerous animals. It should be against the law to own the things anyway.

Perhaps, but a ball python is hardly anywhere near the ballpark of "Dangerous Animal" so what is your point in regards to this story?

What drives me crazy is all these people barking for animal rights, that they should be treated the same as humans. Yet, when something like this happens, when an animal attacks a kid, they're so quick to revert back to "They're just animals doing what's natural." In my opinion, if you want animals treated the same as humans, they should receive the same punishments.

I have a hard time believing you've ever owned any snake. If you actually did have a ball python, I feel sorry for it having such an ignorant owner. A ball python would not just crawl into a crib and mistake a baby's foot for a mouse. A ball python would not seek out any human contact, let alone attack one out of the blue. They just don't do that.

In what world are you living Sarah ?Or I would say Planet? Get information about snakes exp. pythons?Looks like you have no clue.

Wanna spam the comments with that copy-paste a little more, Sarah?

I have owned ball pythons (and other snakes) for several years. I am certainly not an expert, but I know enough to be thoroughly disgusted by the ignorance that is prevailing in the comments.

You be sheating us, right? Shook the baby as hard as you could - guess they don't teach you about shaken baby syndrome or death, do they? Go back in da house an keep yo mouf shet!

I was thinking the same thing. The grandmother and probably the daughter need some child rearing lessons.

Her granddaughter'll be hanging out with all the former NFL players in the old folks' home...

She was wearing her helmet.

Ball pythons are generally very gentle and don't get more than three or four feet long - and those are the old ones. They're terrific rodent eaters too. I've handled dozens of them and can only remember one that was nervous or aggressive, and that one had been poorly cared for and almost never handled. It's unfortunate that the baby was bitten, and very unusual too. I would guess this snake had been inside the walls or feral for some time before it entered the apartment. Aside from being hurt by the bite - which must have resulted from the baby kicking or rolling over on the snake - and frightened, I doubt if the baby was really in serious danger.

The unfortunate part, aside from the traumatized baby and parents, is that people who really don't have much of an idea how to take proper care of these snakes buy them and get careless with them.

Please stop BS , snake is a snake, no excuses.

Tastes like chicken I bet.

Did you say "kill the owner"? Are you serious?

Here's hoping snake finds a home at a nice, secure zoo.

I don't think many zoo's have Ball Python exhibits. But I'll take it if no one wants it :)

Kill -- or at least jail -- the owner. Send a message to moron owners of exotic animals that they must take responsibility or face serious penalty.

Ball Pythons are not "exotic" pets. Go to the reptile area of pretty much ANY chain pet store and they sell them (for the record please define "exotic animal" You mean like an Anaconda or a Cheetah or an Alligator? Or do you mean any pet besides a cat or a dog?) And "kill" the owner?!?! Really?? are you on glue? Do you have a pet? If your pet dog comes anywhere near me I am recommending the death penalty!!

Its not snakes fault. PEOPLE ARE STUPID.

I could not say it better!

Kill the snake first then we can talk about it.