As an animal lover who demands accuracy from the media, I was extremely dismayed to come across this article, originally published in the Muskegon Chronicle. The article details an incident during which local Brian Ahlin came across a snake on the road while driving his pick-up truck. He proceeded to run the snake over, but did not succeed in killing it. The police were called, and Trooper William Coon arrived on the scene to find the snake aggressively lunging out from under the wheels of the truck, and decided to shoot the snake three times until it was dead.
Now that you know the gist of it, allow me to retell this story from the point of view of Brian Ahlin and, apparently, the Muskegon Chronicle:
Brian Ahlin, handsome and heroic local, came across a massive, 40-foot python as he was driving his pick-up truck on the highway. The massive serpent lunged up and attacked the truck, threatening to constrict and swallow Ahlin and his 50-pound dog in one bite. Ahlin risked life and limb in attempting to run over the evil snake, but crisis was averted only when local scholar and keeper of the peace Trooper Coon arrived on the scene and expertly shot the snake in the head, sending it back to Hell where it belongs.
Unfortunately, that is not a far cry from the actual article.
Realistically, there was no risk to anyone involved (except the snake). The snake in question was not a Burmese python (which can indeed attain lengths of 18 to 20 feet) but a common Colombian red-tailed boa (Boa constrictor imperator). Red-tail boas rarely grow over six or seven feet in length, and are utterly incapable of killing a 50-pound dog, much less a person. In fact, captive boas eat large rats. No dogs, no children; even a large rabbit would be too big a meal for most red-tail boas.
Compared to humans, snakes aren't all that smart, but they're smart enough not to attack a truck or person with the intention of eating it. Generally placid creatures, a red-tail boa may lash out if it's afraid or hurt — just as dog, or cat, or human would do. The idea that the truck was being "attacked" is completely laughable.
Article comments
1 - Dean P.
While your comments about the inaccuracy & sloppy reporting are probably correct, trust me when i tell you that there is far far worse reporting than that of the Muskegon Chronicle.
I moved to El Paso, TX in 2000 and am still amazed at the sloppy, lazy reporting that occurs in the El Paso Times. Everything from the headlines to the content just reak of the impression that the readership won't bother to question much - (and they typically do not).
So, its probably folks like yourself, who help journalists stay accountable in their reporting.
On the other hand, putting this snake out of its misery at the earliest possible time was probably best, and just because some cops shot a 7 year old boy once, doesn't mean that dispatching this snake was a wreckless decision. Unless you are a frequent firearm handler yourself, you're probably no more qualified to report on that aspect of this story than the Chronicle writer was on the snake aspect of the story.
What remains unclear to me is this: did the driver intentionally run over the snake, or did the rate of travel on the expressway have something to do with it? Do you feel that he should have left the roadway to avoid hitting the snake?
At any rate, I'm sure your policing has served some good purpose.
2 - CJ
Agreed - there is some serious irresponsibility in the media! This particular article struck a chord with me, however.
I also agree that the snake would have had to have been euthanized as it had been run over.
However, though I am not qualified to speak about guns, I do know that guns are lethal, and I do not think they should be taken out unless someone is in danger, and they shouldn't be fired in a public area unless someone is at risk of dying. Shooting the snake in this case was dangerous; the odds of someone being shot accidentally are very small, but are they small enough to take the risk for no good reason?
Brian Ahlin claimed that he ran the snake over intentionally because it "reared up" and attacked his truck; however, his story is so full of exaggerations and hyperbole, that who knows exactly what happened?
A snake on the road should have been treated like any other animal on the road: avoid if possible, but not if it means driving off the road and into a tree.
3 - Dean P.
... no argument here!
4 - Ghost147
This is what i have posted on that article of theirs.
This is ridiculous! Lets get a few obvious facts out of the way.
That is no Burmese Python, in fact its not even a python! nor does it come from Asia. Its a Boa constrictor from central-south America, reaching 9 feet on average, possessing no venom, nor any danger. Any average Joe out there can over power that animal with his/her own strength.
There is also no way or reason why a snake would be attacking a vehicle. A person, a possibility, But nothing but humans attack just for the hell of it. It would have to be because the animal was cornered or attacked first
Judging by the size of that relatively small species of snake, it would not be eating rabbits. and if it were, it would be an extremely small one, and would eat once a month. Now, how do you suppose that a tiny little rabbit, im talking a young one, not a huge adult, turn its mass into that of Horse manure. It cant, perhaps in the span of 2 or 3 months could it produce that amount that a horse could in a day.
As ive already read a few others say. There is no way that animal could eat a child, or even a baby.
However, i do agree that there are disrespectful reptile owners out there. But the majority, as you can see from all the responses from them here, are extremely knowledgeable and capable of taking care of such animals.
I recall someone saying something about "thats why we should import animals into the pet trades". Where the hell do you think German Sheppard's come, or most house cats, dogs, birds or fish come from? NOT AMERICA!
Just because you or most people in this country have no or little knowledge towards this entire species that inhabits this planet that you live on, Doesn't mean you can brand it dangerous. Stop believing Hollywood when you see someone put over 20 species of non-venomous snakes on a plane and instantly think that they have the capability of killing someone.
Yet again the news bashes an entire species with false information to fuel the frightened and push the people who do take even the most minimal time to research where we live and who else lives with us into the dirt.
Lets focus on how horrible the people who posses this "disgusting" "slimy" creatures are. Lets see how irresponsible and incompetent they are by showing that one person was forgetful enough to leave a tank open letting their (for the most part) perfectly harmless animal to explore. Lets take their right away to keep these animals because of that incident . Lets take their Right to learn from something that doesn't live from their location on the planet. Lets take their right away to be involved with other country's and their inhabitants.
If someone has a car crash, should we ban all vehicles? if a doctor looses a single patient after 20 years helping the sick and injured, should we take away their license to save a life?
NO!
I am not directing this to the place that this incident occurred, but to anyone that knows so little about this entire species. To anyone that has their prejudice towards this entire species and the people who own them. For the facts are, that your dog and your horse can and do do much more damage than a small, non-venomous snake could ever accomplish. Its the ignorant that explode when they here that a snake got loose instead of someones dog that jumped the fence.
5 - Joanne Huspek
I'm sorry, but I laughed until I cried over your story. I'm sure that in that area of the Mitten State, this is big news, far surpassing the $100,000 turtle crossing bridge in north Muskegon. But you're right, someone at that newspaper should have known better.
6 - Mark
i do not love snakes.
7 - Denis
As far as the story goes, I do not really know what the issue is. Is it the inappropriate reaction to an allegedly large snake that happens to be just what 15 feet? Or, is it the merciless killing of the snake?