Some of the world’s most dangerous snakes were removed from an apartment in South Carolina, where a man was bitten by one of the venomous reptiles, according to police.
The man was listed in serious condition.
A source reported that the victim was bitten by an inland taipan snake and that local hospitals didn’t have antivenom. Medical officials had to obtain it from an out-of-state medical facility.
Officials determined that multiple wild or dangerous animals may have been kept at the man’s apartment, and a search warrant was issued. A family member authorized the snakes to be collected by the department. Fourteen snakes and two domestic cats were collected and taken by animal control, officials said.
The city of Florence has an ordinance that mentions venomous or constricting snakes, but it doesn’t prohibit a person from owning them.
“No person shall sell, trade, or give away as a pet any carnivorous animal that is normally not domesticated. Such animal shall include, but not be limited to, those listed in section 3-1, definition of wild animals,” the ordinance reads.
The state doesn’t have a specific ordinance against owning such animals but does state that it’s not lawful to resell or rehome the reptiles. Police said Florence County doesn’t have an ordinance that prohibits owning venomous snakes.
All of the snakes have been humanely euthanized, according to the Florence Police Department. Police clarified they tried to have the snakes collected by numerous professional facilities so that they could be studied or displayed in a professional environment. These facilities were unable to do so, and the only course of action was to have them euthanized.
Officials said they tried to get other groups and zoos that professionally care for reptiles to take in the animals, but the groups didn’t know the history of the animals in terms of their care and treatment.