Snake Bites Hand That Feeds It

A 12-foot, 60-pound python literally bit the hand that fed it Sunday afternoon.

Marina Ames, 21, was cleaning the python’s cage in her apartment when the snake grabbed about half her hand in its mouth and was attempting to swallow the rest.

“I knew he couldn’t eat me, but it hurt,” said Ames, who was caring for the snake for her brother. “I didn’t want him to bite my fingers off. It hurt the most when he started wrapping himself around my arm--that’s when I figured I needed some help.”

She did two things: stabbed the snake, whose name is Judice, with a kitchen knife, and dialed 911. By the time police arrived, Ames said, Judice had let go of her hand and she had pinned his head to the floor with her foot.

The injuries to the snake and woman consisted only of minor cuts.

Ames said her hand is “just a little stiff and sore, but it will be fine.”

And the snake? Homeless and shaken.

“Its fate is pending at this point,” said Sgt. Gary McErlain.

Ames said: “I’m not interested in him as a pet anymore.”