Poisonous snakes allegedly found in unsecured plastic containers in Florence

FLORENCE, SC (WPDE) — ABC 15 has obtained a police report of an incident last Friday in Florence where police confiscated 14 venomous snakes after one of the reptiles bit a 58-year-old man.

The snakes belonged to the man, and he was bitten by an inland taipan, the report said.

Several online publications list the inland taipan as one of the most venomous snakes in the world.

According to police, the man remains in serious condition in hospital but is showing slight improvements.

The police report states that the containers used to house the snakes were plastic containers that “did not meet required standards and were not adequately secured, posing a significant risk to public safety.”

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According to the report, two of the cages containing the snakes had “large holes in the lid through which the caged animals could escape.”

The report further noted that due to the bite of an inland taipan snake in recent months, anti-venom is in short supply and that any subsequent bite from this snake reduces the chances of survival and thus poses an increased health risk to the population.

Officials noted that due to the animals’ condition and unknown health or disease status, it was unlikely that a zoo or reptile sanctuary would accept the animals.

However, officials attempted to contact several zoos and reptile sanctuaries, including River Banks Zoo, Alligator Adventure, Reptile Lagoon, Edisto Island Serpentarium and South of the Border, but none were willing to accept the animals as owners because the animals could pose a safety risk to staff and other animals.

The incident report states that a wildlife officer with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) recommended that, given public safety concerns and the residence’s proximity to a densely populated area, the safest solution was to humanely euthanize the snakes by moving them to a subzero climate.

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All snakes were confiscated and taken into police custody. The enclosures were sufficiently cordoned off to prevent any danger to the public, police said.

Officials said the victim’s family agreed to the humane euthanasia of the snakes.

The incident was recorded on a body-worn camera and a copy of the release was signed by the victim’s father.

Additionally, two cats were seized from the home and taken to the Florence Area Humane Society.