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So it turns out that whole “I thought it was a stick in the mall parking lot but oh my goodness it was actually a cobra, in Baltimore… in freezing weather” story didn’t hold together.

BALTIMORE — Police with the Department of Natural Resources have charged a woman with possession of a venomous snake after she recently claimed she was bitten by one.

Last month, 58-year-old Betsy Nighthorse claimed she was bitten by a cobra that she discovered in a White Marsh parking lot.

Police investigating her claim found another snake — a Neo Tropical Rattlesnake — at her home in Hydes. The snake was about 4 feet long and 4 inches in diameter.

The rattlesnake was taken to the Catoctin Mountain Zoo in Thurmont, as was the cobra.
Nighthorse is due in court in April. She could get a $1,000 for each count.

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10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World info and 10 Most Poisonous Animals Photo Gallery Pics

It is really hard to tell which animal is the most poisonous in the world. The one that has the most toxic chemicals? The one that kills the biggest amount of people a year? Or maybe the one with the biggest amount of poison?

First of all, I have to admit that the title is a bit incorrect, because there is a difference between poisonous and venomous animals. A poisonous animal carries harmful chemicals called toxins primarily used for self defense. Therefore venomous animals deliver their toxins by stinging, stabbing, or biting. So poisonous animals are passive killers, while venomous animals are active killers.

Nevertheless, theory aside, they are all really dangerous. So look really closely at each photo, cause next time you meet them can be the last thing you ever see.

1. Box Jellyfish : If the yardstick for measuring the deadliest of the worlds mot poisonous creatures is assumed to be the number of deaths that have been caused by them, then the Box Jellyfish definitely tops our list of worlds most poisonous creatures. This creature, which is just about the size of a palm, has reportedly caused deaths to almost 6000 people till date. This number is the highest recorded number in the world. This blue colored jellyfish has one of the most powerful, tantalizing and venomous stings in the world and it is found around the coastlines of South East Asia and Australia.

Box Jellyfish Pictures and Photos

2. King Cobra :

King Cobra

The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world’s longest venomous snake – growing up to 5.6 m (18.5 ft) in length. Ophiophagus, literally means “snake-eater” as it eats other snakes. One single bite of this deadly snake can easily kill a human. This snake is even capable of killing a full-grown Asian Elephant within 3 hours if the larger animal is bitten in a vulnerable area such as the trunk.

It’s venom is not as toxic as other venomous snakes, but King Cobra is capable of injecting 5 times more venom than black mamba and can result in mortality up to 5 times faster than that of the black mamba. It is quite widespread, ranging across South and South-east Asia, living in dense highland forests.

3. Marbled Cone Snail

Marbled Cone Snail

This little beautiful looking Marbled Cone snail can be as deadly as any other animal on this list. One drop of its venom is so powerful that it can kill more than 20 humans. If you ever happen to be in warm salt water environment (where these snails are often found) and see it, dont even think of picking it up. Of course, the true purpose of its venom is to catch its prey.

Symptoms of a cone snail sting can start immediately or can be delayed in onset for days. It results in intense pain, swelling, numbness and tingling. Severe cases involve muscle paralysis, vision changes and breathing failure. There is no antivenom. However, only about 30 human deaths have been recorded from cone snail envenomation.

4. Blue-Ringed Octopus : The blue ringed Octopus was considered one of the worlds most poisonous sea creatures till some time back, until the Box Jellyfish took over. Nevertheless, this creature is till capable of killing up to 25 humans in one bite. Found in the Pacific pools from Japan to Australia, this creature’s bite is impalpable in most cases, but the venom starts working immediately on the muscles and heart- causing weakness, seizure and death within minutes.

Blue-Ringed Octopus

5. Death Stalker Scorpion :

Death Stalker Scorpion

Contrarily to the popular belief most of the scorpions are relatively harmless to humans as stings produce only local effects (pain, numbness or swelling). However, the Death Starker Scorpion is highly dangerous species because its venom is a powerful cocktail of neurotoxins which causes an intense and unbearable pain, then fever, followed by coma, convulsions, paralysis and death. Fortunately, while a sting from this scorpion is extremely painful, it would be unlikely to kill a healthy, adult human. Young children, the old, or infirm (with a heart condition) are at the biggest risk.

Death stalker scorpions are spread in North Africa and Middle East.
6. Stonefish : The stonefish is the worlds most poisonous fish, and probably the ugliest also. It is often remarked that when a stone fish attack a human being, the pain is so severe that the person wants to amputate the area affected. Its bit may not be lethal and can be treated within hours, but if left untreated for more than 2-3 hours, a bit from the stone fish can result into death for the human beings.

StoneFish

7. The Brazilian wandering spider :
The Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria) or banana spider appears in the Guinness Book of World Records 2007 for the most venomous spider and is the spider responsible for most human deaths.

This spider is believed to have the most potent neurotoxic venom of any living spider. Only 0.006mg (0.00000021oz) is sufficient to kill a mouse. They are also so dangerous because of their wandering nature. They often hide during daytime in highly populated areas inside houses, clothes, boots, and cars.

Its venomous bite causes not only intense pain, the venom of the spider can also cause priapism – uncomfortable erections lasting for many hours that lead to impotence.
The Brazilian wandering spider

8. Inland Taipan :

Inland Taipan

The inland Taipan is recognized as being the worlds most poisonous snake, having the capability to kill over a hundred human beings within 45 seconds from a single bite. Found in Australia, the Inland Taipan is definitely the one to beware of.

9. Poison Dart Frog :

Poison Dart Frog

Poison Dart Frog
The poison dart frog is another creature you might find cute if you found it in the wild but just touching this little guy can put you in harms way. Native to South and Central America, the frog got its name because indigenous tribes used to use the poison as an addition to their blow darts.

10. Puffer Fish : The puffer fish is a delicacy in many part of Japan and China, but some organs of the fish are deadly to the human beings- making it one of the worlds most poisonous and lethal animals. The poison of the fish is devastating for the one who consumes it and results in deadening of the muscles, increasing of the heart rate, dizziness, vomiting and permanent seizure within minutes of consuming the deadly poison.

The Puffer Fish

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Everyone is accusing the lady of lying. It would be sad if she were telling the truth. (But she probably isn’t.)

Video: Woman Bitten By Cobra Bags Snake, Takes To Docs

Woman Bitten By Cobra Bags Snake, Takes To Docs

Woman Says She Was Bitten In Baltimore County Parking Lot

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. — A woman told authorities she was bitten by a poisonous cobra on Sunday in a Baltimore County parking lot.

Baltimore City Animal Control recovered the snake on Sunday, but where it came from has yet to be determined.

Authorities told 11 News the woman walked into a White March Patient First location with a snake bite — as well as the snake that bit her. She had stuffed it into a bag.

“What the patient told our medic crews is that she was in the parking lot of a local shopping center when she saw what she thought was a stick on the ground. She bent down to pick up the stick when it bit her. It turned out to be a snake,” said Baltimore County Fire Department spokeswoman Elise Armacost.

The snake turned out to be a venomous Asian cobra known as a monacle cobra.

Armacost said Patient First called 911.

“The staff at Patient First said that they had put the snake in a trash can and wanted to know what to do with it,” Armacost said.

She said as the patient was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital, her team launched a search for the antivenom, first calling Falls Road Animal Hospital.

“If we’re going to use something this dangerous in a human, it has to be for human use only, and it can’t be out of date,” said veterinarian Dr. Kim Hammond, who has extensive experience with venomous snakes.

“In this temperature, there’s no cobra out there running wild. It would be frozen. It’s not just unlikely — it’s impossible.” - Dr. Kim Hammond, Falls Road Animal Hospital

Falls Road Animal Hospital played a key role in locating the antivenom, which was ultimately flown in from Philadelphia.

“There are so many different species of venomous animals that you have to — in order to get the correct antivenom — have the exact species. You have to know what antivenom to use, because the antivenom is toxic by itself,” Hammond said.

While the woman said she stepped on the cobra in a parking lot, the Maryland Poison Center said it’s not a public health issue and that they’re confident there are no cobras running wild in Baltimore.

Animal experts said that in January, that’s not even possible.

“In this temperature, there’s no cobra out there running wild. It would be frozen. It’s not just unlikely — it’s impossible,” Hammond said.

He said keeping a cobra as a pet is “stupid” and dangerous. It’s also illegal in Maryland.

Department of Natural Resources Police took the snake to the Catoctin Zoo in Thurmont. Officials said the cobra was clearly a captive snake and used to being hooked and handled and around humans.

It’s being quarantined for a few months in case it has a virus, and then it will join the rest of the collection, zoo officials said.

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What do you know? You live in an enclosure with 40 venomous snakes, apparently you’ll get bitten. Who would have predicted that?

Swart was biten three times on the right arm by a puffadder on Friday night, confirmed Chameleon Village Reptile and Conservation Park director David Dennis.

“After surviving three bites, the risk is a little bit too much,” said Dennis.

Swart walked into the snake enclosure near Hartbeestport Dam on 15 August last year but was biten by a puffadder just six days later. He spent 27 days in hospital.

“I then started over on 23-10-2009 knowing that I must be more careful, but then I got biten again on the 27-12-2009 by a snouted cobra on the same foot that the puffadder bit me,” wrote Swart on his website.

On Friday night, Swart was biten by a puffadder while watching a DVD. Dennis said fortunately the snake was smaller than the puffadder which bit him last year.

He said he hoped that Swart would be discharged from hospital today.

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LINCOLNTON — A Dallas man bitten by a timber rattlesnake was flown to Carolinas Medical Center over the weekend.

Michael J. Jacobs, 32, of Dallas, was at an East Sycamore Street home in Lincolnton Friday night when he said he got an unwelcome surprise.

Jacobs opened a plastic container and was bitten by a rattler that was inside.

“I didn’t know that it was in there. If I had known it was in there, I wouldn’t have opened it,” he said from his hospital bed Monday afternoon.

Jacobs said he expects to be in the hospital a few more days but felt lucky it wasn’t worse.

“It was an unfortunate accident. I’m lucky to be alive,” he said. “Luckily I watch enough ‘Animal Planet.’”

Jacobs said he opened the container to put a lizard inside. When the snake struck, one fang sunk into Jacobs’ finger. His body quickly felt all warm inside and he knew he needed to get to the hospital. Jacobs had a friend drive him to Carolinas Medical Center-Lincoln. He was later flown by helicopter to Charlotte.

Jacobs said keeping a cool head was important and noted that he had experience with exotic animals from working at a zoo.

Jacobs said he doesn’t know who put the snake in the tub.

The venomous snake, indigenous to North Carolina, isn’t meant for captivity, according to Officer C.R. Arnold with the N.C. Wildlife Commission.

Arnold was contacted by Lincolnton Police and visited the Sycamore Street home Monday.

“I’ve got one of the snakes in the front seat of my truck right now and I’m not real comfortable with it,” he said.

Arnold drove the snake to The Schiele Museum of Natural History Monday afternoon where the snake will be kept indefinitely.

A snake and a lizard are just two of the animals Lincolnton Police Detective Jason Munday saw when he went to the home.

Munday said he saw a caiman, part of the crocodile family.

Not typically found in this region, caimans come with regulations, Arnold said.

Local police did not press any charges, but the Wildlife Commission investigation is ongoing, said Arnold.

An important lesson can come from Jacobs’ venomous encounter, according to Arnold.

“Poisonous snakes don’t make good pets, especially if they’re indigenous to North Carolina,” he said. “If they find a rattlesnake they cannot keep it. It’s not a pet. It’s a wild animal. They cannot be bought, sold or traded.”

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A toddler has survived the bite of a highly venomous snake at a day care centre northeast of Perth.

Anais Nicholls, who is just 14 months old, was bitten by a 36cm-long Dugite snake at Bencubbin day care centre, 280km northeast of Perth on Friday afternoon, News Limited reports.

The snake crawled through a door at the centre, attracting Anais’ attention before she picked it up.

The day care centre’s staff gave her immediate medical attention, which included splinting the bite.

The toddler was then flown to Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth and was in a stable condition when she arrived about 9pm (WST) on Friday.

The snake was killed and brought to the hospital in a jar to help determine if venom had entered her blood stream.

By Saturday morning the little girl was said to be ‘very well’.

It is believed she will be released from hospital on Sunday.

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The body of missing Israeli hiker Omri Lahad, who disappeared over a month ago, has been found. It appears the 23-year-old hiker was R”L bitten by a poisonous snake, and his body was found near the Colombia-Brazil border.

The body was being held in a local police station since no one identified the remains, and the widespread circulation of his photo on missing person flyers alerted police to his identity.

It appears the determination regarding the snake bite is based on fang marks on his body. The family was officially informed and Foreign Ministry officials are making efforts to have the body returned home for kvura in Eretz Yisrael.

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ALEXANDRIA, MINN. - Jason Raasch was driving home from a trip to Missouri when he looked down and saw a rattlesnake in his car.

“I was pretty scared, because I’d never even seen a rattlesnake except for at the zoo, so for it to be in the car and to bite me to top it off was pretty scary,” Raasch said.

It happened at the intersection of I-94 and Highway 27 in Alexandria. Raasch said he didn’t know the snake was there until it bit him. Raasch’s friend rushed him to Douglas County Hospital where an ambulance took him to HCMC.  A few days later, Raasch developed pancreatitis, which was the start of his insurance problems.

“My health insurance would only cover so many days of my stay, and it just so happens that on that amount of days I was discharged,” Raasch explained.

The CT scans of Raasch’s stomach show a large mass by his pancreas.  Dr. Shawn Lanman with Alexandria Clinic found the mass and send Raasch to the University of Minnesota; however, they told him there was no mass.  Even though Raasch has proof there is in fact a mass in his stomach, the UofM won’t help him.

Raasch experiences intense stomach pain on a daily basis.  The pain is so great; his doctor isn’t allowing him to work at all.  Now Raasch can’t pay his bills.

“I’ve got bills.  I’ve got rent.  I mean I have all kinds of bills that need to be paid, and I can’t pay any of them,” Raasch said.

Those bills include his health insurance.  His insurance doesn’t cover most of his medical care, or some of his prescriptions.  The insurance won’t cover the 12 hour surgery Raasch needs to remove the mass.  He thinks that’s the reason Mayo and the UofM won’t help him.

“My insurance won’t cover it, and they won’t even see me without health insurance,” Raasch explained.

If he doesn’t pay his bills, Raasch might lose his insurance altogether.

“If they drop my health insurance, I’m like a fish out of water,” Raasch said.

He hopes the health care reform bill working its way through WashingtonD.C. will help his situation.  Until then, he’ll have to wait.

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TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 28 (UPI) — A Florida truck driver was bitten by two species of poisonous snakes while trying to retrieve his runa

Spokesman Will Darnell says John Agin, 46, was the 13th snake bite patient treated at University Community Hospital this year, the St. Petersburg (Fla.,) Times reports.

Agin said he was walking his rat terrier, Lil Bit, Tuesday when the dog ran away from him.

While chasing her, he suddenly felt a sharp, stinging pain in his right shin and when he looked down he saw a 10-inch, red-and-yellow snake gnawing on his foot.

Hillsborough County paramedics identified one bite as belonging to a pygmy rattlesnake. Hospital workers said a second bite was probably inflicted by a coral snake.

“It’s not impossible for snakes of two different kinds to be in the same area at the same time,” said Lt. Lisa Wood of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s anti-venom unit.

Agan said it’s not the first time he’s been bitten by a snake. He’s also had encounters with a water moccasin, a diamondback rattlesnake and some non-venomous species.

“They happened mostly around my yard,” he said.

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Logger bitten by snake

By Lisa Tindell

news editor

Published:

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 9:22 AM CDT

One rattlesnake bite can lead to a serious situation, but a Brewton area man is living through the ordeal of having been bitten eight times.

Johnny Lavon Odom’s family is thankful for his life. Odom’s wife, Nancy, said he has spent more than three weeks in intensive care as a result of the incident, which took place in the Little River community in western Escambia County.

“He has been in ICU for 24 days,” Nancy said. “The doctors are saying we are just taking it a day at a time right now.”

Nancy said Odom is now able to sit up for a period of time but will remain in ICU until a ventilator is no longer needed.

“He is still on the ventilator some,” Nancy said. “The doctors are trying to build up his lungs so they take him off the ventilator for a little at a time. He will have to be off the ventilator before they can move him to a room on the floor.”

Nancy said the medical bills are continuing to mount with no planned release from the hospital in the near future.

“I’m not sure what the bill is right now,” Nancy said. “A couple of weeks ago one of the hospital staff members told me it was already near six figures.”

The log truck driver does not have any medical insurance, Nancy said.

“I don’t know exactly what we will do about that,” Nancy said. “We’ll just have to see what we can do.”

A rattlesnake bite can be debilitating or even deadly. Jackie Word, director of Turtle Point Science Center in Flomaton, said the age of the snake could have a great bearing on the amount of venom injected into a victim.

“Younger snakes have less control on the amount of venom they inject into their victim,” Word said. “They are more reckless and careless with their venom. Older snakes, on the other hand, have more control over their venom.”

Although Odom was reportedly bitten eight times, Word said chances are that venom wasn’t injected on every bite.

“Typically, it’s my belief that a snake’s venom supply is exhausted after two or possibly three bites,” Word said. “Of course, in a defense situation, typically snakes inject venom in smaller doses in repeated strikes.”

Nancy said she is not sure just what happened to her husband in the woods of the Little River community — and he does not remember.

“I’m not clear on exactly what happened out there,” Nancy said. “He’s very lucky though. He seems to be getting better. Right now, he’s just a little bored sitting in ICU.”

Physical therapists are working with Odom on a regular basis, Nancy said. His physicians have not determined a possible date for discharge, she said.