Published: January 20, 2009 08:11 pm      

Borden man bitten by venomous viper snake

Victim could be charged for not having permit to own snake

A Borden man was taken to University Hospital in Louisville on Monday night after being bitten by a deadly snake he owns. Now, he could face criminal charges.

Conservation Officer Mac Spainhour said the man owns 25 snakes, three of them venomous. Skin had grown over the mouth of his rhinoceros viper, and the owner was trying to remove the skin when the snake bit him.

Spainhour described it as a “dry bite,” meaning no venom entered the man. Chances are slim of surviving a venomous bite from a rhinoceros viper without immediately being treated, he said.

The man reportedly owns two rhinoceros vipers and a bothrops asper.

“In Clark County, it’s fairly unusual,” he said of having a venomous snake bite.

Spainhour said you need a class 3 level permit to own that type of snake in Indiana. The bite victim, who has raised snakes for about 40 years, reportedly moved to Daisy Hill Road in Borden about three to four weeks ago from Kentucky. Spainhour said he believes it would be illegal to have those snakes in Kentucky.

The victim’s name is not being released until investigators interview him because of possible charges he may face.

Spainhour said he still has to complete his investigation and decide what to do next. Possession of venomous snakes without a permit is a class C misdemeanor. The snakes also could be removed from the house, but he could possibly apply for a permit and have them returned. Spainhour said it is unlikely the snakes would be put down.

Spainhour said it is important to have a permit because of public safety.

“If there was a fire, and firefighters had to enter the house, they would not know what is there,” he said. “That’s a potential hazard to the public.”

If the snake were to escape, it would also be easier to find information about the snake if it is registered, he said.