NationStates Jolt Archive

So imagine you found a sick poisonous snake somewhere,
what would you do with the poor but dangerous critter?

I saw some folks ( on TV, of course ) trying to give the critter aid - despite the fact that the snake, if made well, would present a clear and present danger.

What would you do, and why?

If I had the right medical equipment I'd help it. And if I were sick in the middle of a rainforest I'd expect the snake to do the same for me.

Let it die. If you tried to help you might get bitten, and a Snake doesn't know if you are trying to help it or kill it so just leave it well alone.

I should perhaps add that in real life ( well, on that TV program anyway ) no human got hurt, but the effort to give aid was ineffective, because of something like a traffic-control delay.

Obviously, that isn't an ethical factor.
Just one of those random things of every day life.

Let the snakes LIVE!

Sick as in diseased or sick as in wounded?

If wounded, I would help what I could, then run like heck.

If diseased, I'd probably not be capable of helping. I'd give the vets a call and let them know, do what I could to help getting it into their care, then run like heck.

Sick as in diseased or sick as in wounded?

If wounded, I would help what I could, then run like heck.

If diseased, I'd probably not be capable of helping. I'd give the vets a call and let them know, do what I could to help getting it into their care, then run like heck.

Sick as in diseased. If memory serves me well, the critter had hypothermia.
Snakes don't actively control their temperature.
It was due for extensive nursing.

In fact, an animal is most dangerous when it is wounded.....


I think you should be very careful if you are trying to heal a snake, one of my friends was bitten by an Adder when he was on holiday and had to spend some time in hospital...

I'd help it and with my luck i'd be bit.

Isn't anyone bothered by the fact that if you were succesful in healing said snake, said snake would then possibly endanger your fellow man?

Isn't anyone bothered by the fact that if you were succesful in healing said snake, said snake would then possibly endanger your fellow man?

No.

There are countless poisonous snakes living throughout Australia, but I can't remember the last time someone here died from a snake bite. I've seen lots of them, but have never been attacked. Snakes don't actually want to bite humans, they only do so when they feel endangered. Live & let live I say.

Isn't anyone bothered by the fact that if you were succesful in healing said snake, said snake would then possibly endanger your fellow man?
Only if said fellow man was the type that would endanger himself in the presence of said snake; in which case, our act of altruism would be merely throwing a match onto the roaring bonfire in bringing possible harm to said individual.

Ild call WIRES and let the professionals take care of it.

Isn't anyone bothered by the fact that if you were succesful in healing said snake, said snake would then possibly endanger your fellow man?
Not really.
Snakes are easy enough to avoid, and many of them are endangered species.

Not really.
Snakes are easy enough to avoid, and many of them are endangered species.


Possibly, I suppose. ( about avoiding )

However, i come from a country which is essentially devoid of snakes, and I would think very ill of a man who would suffer a snake to live!
( We've got 100 - lets get it down to zero. )

I would leave it be and let nature take its course.

Possibly, I suppose. ( about avoiding )

However, i come from a country which is essentially devoid of snakes, and I would think very ill of a man who would suffer a snake to live!
( We've got 100 - lets get it down to zero. )
Are you from NZ? Why kill snakes? Spiders, dogs, and cattle can all kill humans too. Annually there would be far mor dog attacks and fatalities. I would even guess the encounter to attack rate to be much higher in dogs (excluding your own pet). Snakes are just another creature evolved to survive and procreate like the rest of us. Besides, what kind of snakes do you have in your country, the majority are harmless (aggression/poison-wise). In fact there are only a handful of snakes in the world that can kill you before you would normally have enough time to reach medical attention. Avoiding snakes (in Australia, not Africa) s as simple as stamping your feet and making a bit of noise whilst you walkin in the scrub. Scares them away.

Possibly, I suppose. ( about avoiding )

However, i come from a country which is essentially devoid of snakes, and I would think very ill of a man who would suffer a snake to live!
( We've got 100 - lets get it down to zero. )
I personally find that ethically defunct. You look down on a man who refuses to kill for the sake of bringing death?

I would have no problem in causing a snake's death in either defence or hunting if I did so in respect for and acknowledgement of the snake and made the most out of their passing (ie, both food and clothing), but to take its life simply for the purpose of it not living any more to me appears abhorrent in the extreme. If you, in turn, find my understanding to be unethical then I would similarly question the basis for your judgement.

id serve it up to my mother in law with some favor beans and a nice chianti :D

Leave it alone.

A) I don't know how to heal one.

B) It is stupid to touch a wild animal, let alone a venomous one in any situation.

I hate footy

Kick that footy! (Footy time, footy time, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.)

hmm this could wander on to a debate about euthanasia which cant be bothered with so im going now to have some nice shepards pie. i bet your all jealous now

Kick that footy! (Footy time, footy time, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.)

+100 points to you. :D

I'd heal it, then put it on a train. With luck, it'll be the inspiration for Snakes on a Plane II - Snake on a Train.

I'd heal it, then put it on a train. With luck, it'll be the inspiration for Snakes on a Plane II - Snake on a Train.
Huh, I was gonna go for Snakes on a Boat.

If I could save the snake while preventing it from biting me I would.
Then(or failing the above) I'd call the nearest zoo and let them decide what to do with it. It's their area of expertise anyway.

id help it anyway possable.. hell i pick snails up off the path and put them in bushes or on grass so ppl dont walk on them, and i move worms of the concrete inacse the get burnt by the sun or walked on :D

+100 points to you. :D

Janet's a legend. I love the film clip too.

No.

There are countless poisonous snakes living throughout Australia, but I can't remember the last time someone here died from a snake bite. I've seen lots of them, but have never been attacked. Snakes don't actually want to bite humans, they only do so when they feel endangered. Live & let live I say.



Some might disagree with you.

Heres a site with the story of a kid bitten on the hand by a big rattlesnake. He was sitting on a rock with his hand dangling at his side unaware of the snake.


http://www.rattlesnakebite.org/index.htm


The site has a page of pictures of his arm after it had several surgeries done which might upset anyone sensitive to that kind of thing. The page I linked to has only text though, and not the gruesome pics

"My hand now has fully mobility and is about 80% as strong as it was before, thanks to my Dad and I resuming our rock climbing after a 1 year break due to the lack of strength in my left hand. I use it for about 90% of the things I used to do with my left hand (I am right handed). 13 surgeries, $700,000 worth of helicopter flights, surgeries, and hospital stays (paid by my insurance of course), and 20 months later, I am very happy with the outcome of this experience and my good fortune of getting through all this without any significant loss. "

Some might disagree with you.

Heres a site with the story of a kid bitten on the hand by a big rattlesnake. He was sitting on a rock with his hand dangling at his side unaware of the snake.


http://www.rattlesnakebite.org/index.htm


The site has a page of pictures of his arm after it had several surgeries done which might upset anyone sensitive to that kind of thing. The page I linked to has only text though, and not the gruesome pics

"My hand now has fully mobility and is about 80% as strong as it was before, thanks to my Dad and I resuming our rock climbing after a 1 year break due to the lack of strength in my left hand. I use it for about 90% of the things I used to do with my left hand (I am right handed). 13 surgeries, $700,000 worth of helicopter flights, surgeries, and hospital stays (paid by my insurance of course), and 20 months later, I am very happy with the outcome of this experience and my good fortune of getting through all this without any significant loss. "

Just because snakes are dangerous we should let them die? Does that apply to other dangerous animals too? Because almost every animal on this planet has the potential to be dangerous. Does it apply to dangerous people?

"In Australia there are about 3,000 snake bites per year, of which 200 to 500 receive antivenom; on average one or two will prove fatal. About half the deaths are due to bites from the brown snake; the rest mostly from tiger snake, taipan and death adder. Some deaths are sudden, however in fact it is uncommon to die within four hours of a snake bite.

Struan Sutherland's 'Death from snake bite in Australia, 1981-1991' (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1453996&dopt=Citation) (The Medical Journal of Australia, December 1991, Volume 7, pages 740-46) contains some graphic descriptions of the 18 known fatal snake bites in that ten year period. "

From http://www.usyd.edu.au/anaes/venom/snakebite.html

I kill all poisonous snakes, regardless of mobility or health. I live by one general rule, if it can't hurt me, why hurt it? The only exceptions to that rule is if it is meat (deer, turkey, rabbits, etc.). I don't just kill for fun, but I spend too much time in the woods to want to be bitten by the rattlesnake I let live yesterday. :mp5:

If the snake needs help, call Steve Irwin.

*snip*

Struan Sutherland's 'Death from snake bite in Australia, 1981-1991' (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1453996&dopt=Citation) (The Medical Journal of Australia, December 1991, Volume 7, pages 740-46) contains some graphic descriptions of the 18 known fatal snake bites in that ten year period. "

From http://www.usyd.edu.au/anaes/venom/snakebite.html

Struan Sutherland was a very interesting bloke. There's a very funny description of him in Douglas Adam's "Last Chance To See".

Struan Sutherland was a very interesting bloke. There's a very funny description of him in Douglas Adam's "Last Chance To See".
I have no idea who he is, I just linked to that think to save people looking for it themselves. I'm just a nice guy.

I'd ignore it. Animals die in the wild. It's necessary for the ecosystem.

I kill all poisonous snakes, regardless of mobility or health. I live by one general rule, if it can't hurt me, why hurt it? The only exceptions to that rule is if it is meat (deer, turkey, rabbits, etc.). I don't just kill for fun, but I spend too much time in the woods to want to be bitten by the rattlesnake I let live yesterday. :mp5:

If the snake needs help, call Steve Irwin.

You kill poisonous snakes because they might possibly one day bite you? You should go around killing dogs too. And horses, they bite people too. And little kids bite people sometimes.

You kill poisonous snakes because they might possibly one day bite you? You should go around killing dogs too. And horses, they bite people too. And little kids bite people sometimes.

Only one difference, big girl, I don't know of anyone EVER dying of a horse bit or child bite. Dogs, rarely, and if they are that mean (excepting crime-fighting dogs or guard dogs), I shoot them too. I've done it before and I'll do it again...and that's coming from a dog-lover!

I have no idea who he is, I just linked to that think to save people looking for it themselves. I'm just a nice guy.

He was the world expert in snake venom research. He developed the first effective anti-venoms & refined them over the years. Don't know how many lives he saved, but it must have been thousands. He was based here in Melbourne & died a few years ago. Top bloke that.

Only one difference, big girl, I don't know of anyone EVER dying of a horse bit or child bite. Dogs, rarely, and if they are that mean (excepting crime-fighting dogs or guard dogs), I shoot them too. I've done it before and I'll do it again...and that's coming from a dog-lover!
I'm not a girl, it just says cabbage patch girl. I've never been in a cabbage patch either.

You know nature is full of animals that could kill you. Where do you get the time to post, surely you should be off slaughtering them all?

if it were in the middle of nowhere(which i live on the edge of), id leave it be to die as it would do naturally. if it were in my house or yard, id kill it if i could and call my father in law to shoot it if i couldnt.

I'd ignore it. Animals die in the wild. It's necessary for the ecosystem.

I should have expanded this:
- I wouldn't save a snake that would otherwise die
- I wouldn't kill a snake that would otherwise live

I'd just "let nature take its course".

I have to vote "let it die" for two main reasons.

1) I have no training in herpetology and have no idea how to care for a snake.

2) Snakes die in the wild all the time -- he'll be food for another set of animals who in turn will feed others. Circle of life and all that jazz.

So imagine you found a sick poisonous snake somewhere,
what would you do with the poor but dangerous critter?

I saw some folks ( on TV, of course ) trying to give the critter aid - despite the fact that the snake, if made well, would present a clear and present danger.

What would you do, and why?
If it wouldn't cost too much to make it well I'd take it to the veteranarian. I used to have an exotic reptiles license, but I'm pretty sure it's expired, so they'd probably release it once it's well. In NJ the only poisonous snakes are timber rattlesnakes and copperheads. In NJ they're endangered. I'd be doing my part to help save a species.

Call me OC or AR if you want.

Snakes (spiders, scorpions etc. you get my point) are not "poisonous", they are venomous. You can eat them.

Second, reptiles, being ectothermic have to be very active in controlling their body temperature. They move from hot to warm to cool throughout the day to maintain their optimal/preferred body temp. They employ behavior to accomplish this.

Endothermic mammals and birds passively maintain their body temperatures via metabolism.

As far as "saving" a sick snake, better call that vet first. Very few treat reptiles of any kind let alone venemous ones.

Hypothermic means that the snake is too cool to be active. All that is required, in the normal circumstances, to "treat" a hypothermic snake is to give it opportunity to warm up. In the wild, this is the usual course of events facing every reptile every morning after having cooled off due to nighttime temps. In which case, it is not a disorder or disease or injury. It is normal. The reptiles do know how to make the adjustment for themselves. They have been doing it successfully for longer than there have been interfering humans.

So, I would leave the snake alone.

Anyone that advocates the killing of snakes, just because they are snakes and are "scary"? must really love rodents. You want dangerous or scary? Consider population explosions of rodents. Ever hear of Hanta virus, Lymes disease, Trichinella, Leptopirosis, or the infamous Bubonic plague?

Dogs--YES FAMILY PETS--cause way more deaths in a year that all venomous animals combined. And it's not inadvertent or accidental, it is due to intentional aggression. Actually, the dogs can't be blamed, Perhaps it could be said that ignorant and irresponsible dog owners enable hundreds of dog on human attacks overy year. A goodly portion of which result in death.

I'd heal it, simply because I think that all life is worth something.

I'd help the snake if I knew what needed to be done and had access to whatever it took to do so. It wouldn't be a clear and present danger if I took the right precautions. Now if I handled the snake without any protective gear on.. that would be my stupidity .. not the snakes fault. I'd aid the snake to health and free him back into the wild.

Sick as in diseased. If memory serves me well, the critter had hypothermia.
Snakes don't actively control their temperature.
It was due for extensive nursing.
Hypothermia? it was freezing? then I would not fear getting bit for the snake probably couldn't move well or fast. I would've placed it in the sun where it could warm up.

Leave it alone.

A) I don't know how to heal one.

B) It is stupid to touch a wild animal, let alone a venomous one in any situation.Smart choice.

I should have expanded this:
- I wouldn't save a snake that would otherwise die
- I wouldn't kill a snake that would otherwise live

I'd just "let nature take its course".


Makes sense. I probably would do the same if its injuries came from natural causes involving its own habitat.

So imagine you found a sick poisonous snake somewhere,
what would you do with the poor but dangerous critter?

I saw some folks ( on TV, of course ) trying to give the critter aid - despite the fact that the snake, if made well, would present a clear and present danger.

What would you do, and why?
I like snakes, so I'll try my best to heal it. Besides, as long as you extract all the poison from its teeth, it won't be able to harm you for a while other than leave a couple of tiny holes in your hand.

I'd heal it, simply because I think that all life is worth something.

By doing what exactly?
How grounded are you in diseases and disorders of reptiles?
What medications and at what dosages are effective in reptiles?
How many years experience do you have in SAFELY handling venomous reptiles?
How much "handling" stress is safe for a sick reptile? How do you recognize when your ministrations have stressed it over the edge of recovery?
What type of reptile accomodations do you have setup and at the ready for these situations?
What are the proper husbandry practices for every species of snake you might encounter that might need medical intervention?
Can you recognize and differentiate between venomous and non-venomous?
What diagnostic facililies and equipment do you have access to to get an accurate diagnosis of what the snake is suffering from?

I care about life.
I have experience, education, equipment and skills that enable me to address this specific situation. And yet, finding a snake in it's natural environment--a WILD snake--I would leave it alone. More wild animals die as a direct result of the interference of uninformed, even if well intentioned, humans than are ever "saved" or "healed".

Sorry, my tone sounds like I am slamming those who care about animals. I just want to point out that no matter how much a person cares, to really be EFFECTIVE (as opposed to detrimental) in helping an animal there are numerous critical considerations that have to be known beforehand and in
place.

There are some things that can not be fixed.

I like snakes, so I'll try my best to heal it. Besides, as long as you extract all the poison from its teeth, it won't be able to harm you for a while other than leave a couple of tiny holes in your hand.

Boy, do you need to do some studying up.
I recommend that you start here http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=327

No venomous snake, unless it is verifiably dead, is ever safe.

By doing what exactly?
How grounded are you in diseases and disorders of reptiles?
What medications and at what dosages are effective in reptiles?
How many years experience do you have in SAFELY handling venomous reptiles?
How much "handling" stress is safe for a sick reptile? How do you recognize when your ministrations have stressed it over the edge of recovery?
What type of reptile accomodations do you have setup and at the ready for these situations?
What are the proper husbandry practices for every species of snake you might encounter that might need medical intervention?
Can you recognize and differentiate between venomous and non-venomous?
What diagnostic facililies and equipment do you have access to to get an accurate diagnosis of what the snake is suffering from?

I care about life.
I have experience, education, equipment and skills that enable me to address this specific situation. And yet, finding a snake in it's natural environment--a WILD snake--I would leave it alone. More wild animals die as a direct result of the interference of uninformed, even if well intentioned, humans than are ever "saved" or "healed".

Sorry, my tone sounds like I am slamming those who care about animals. I just want to point out that no matter how much a person cares, to really be EFFECTIVE (as opposed to detrimental) in helping an animal there are numerous critical considerations that have to be known beforehand and in
place.

There are some things that can not be fixed.I know. I had the horrifying incident where at a camp, a couple of kids were bent over saying "it is" "it's not" back and forth, one was making like it was going to grab something. I wandered by and found that they were arguing that a large snake that was slithering past them slowly was or was not a rattlesnake.

I told them to wait as the one who insisted that it wasn't was again reaching for it. and a good thing to for a second later, its rattle passed his hand.

while the snake was simply moving by, not threatening or being threatened by the kids, picking it up would have been dangerous. as it was, the only thing that was threatened was the standing high jump record when that grabby kid saw the rattle.

I like snakes, so I'll try my best to heal it. Besides, as long as you extract all the poison from its teeth, it won't be able to harm you for a while other than leave a couple of tiny holes in your hand.
So you know how to milk the venom from a snake? Absolutley every single drop of venom?

Simple.

Call a professional to do it. Like Animal people...or something.

...did anyone else get a feeling of deja vu when they looked at this thread? I could have sworn the first post and the first twenty after it were identical to a thread a couple months ago...

As for the snake: heal it! With the power of mah heart! *strums guitar*

On a more serious note, I would attempt to treat it, but my medical knowledge--especially vetinary knowledge--is slim at best. I might do more harm than god.

I'd heal it. And protect it - especially from stupid humans.

Are you from NZ? Why kill snakes? Spiders, dogs, and cattle can all kill humans too. Annually there would be far mor dog attacks and fatalities. I would even guess the encounter to attack rate to be much higher in dogs (excluding your own pet). Snakes are just another creature evolved to survive and procreate like the rest of us. Besides, what kind of snakes do you have in your country, the majority are harmless (aggression/poison-wise). In fact there are only a handful of snakes in the world that can kill you before you would normally have enough time to reach medical attention. Avoiding snakes (in Australia, not Africa) s as simple as stamping your feet and making a bit of noise whilst you walkin in the scrub. Scares them away.
I agree with you.

I can only hope that Bogmiss falls asleep drunk somewhere outside and there just happens to be a big python that hasn't eaten in weeks right next to him.

I'd do what I could or call a vet, same for any animal. Some people see poisonous snakes as being bad just because they can hurt us. like those idiots who want to kill sharks to make the sea safe. how about we stay out of their habitat and leave them alone?

I have handled non-poisonous snakes and have a pretty fair notion of how to keep from being bitten (even a non-poisonous snake can deliver a painful bite and, incidentally, what we call non- poisonous just means that their poison isn't harmful to humans). I would find an appropriately secure container (of which I have a few), catch the snake and place it in said container and take it to the nearest vet who specialized in reptiles. Most rattlesnakes (the most common form of poisonous snake in North America) are not aggressive and need to be provoked and cornered before they'll coil and strike, a sick snake will be more easily provoked and less able to escape and so would be more dangerous than a healthy one. It simply makes good sense to remove it from a situation where it could do harm and I see no point in killing a useful, and possibly endangered, animal when it can be saved.

So imagine you found a sick poisonous snake somewhere,
what would you do with the poor but dangerous critter?

I saw some folks ( on TV, of course ) trying to give the critter aid - despite the fact that the snake, if made well, would present a clear and present danger.

What would you do, and why?
Would it be possible to help it without getting bit?

Well, unless I had a herpetologist on speed dial, I think I would offer a prayer for the snake and hoped it had a better life next time around.

I'll leave it alone.

Killing it is a bad idea - it has every "right" to exist as I do. And trying to help it is, as several others have pointed out, dangerous to both the snake and the helper.


Leave it alone.

A) I don't know how to heal one.

B) It is stupid to touch a wild animal, let alone a venomous one in any situation.

Exactly so.


Besides, as long as you extract all the poison from its teeth, it won't be able to harm you for a while other than leave a couple of tiny holes in your hand.

As Zendragon pointed out, venomous snakes, like firearms, should never be treated as "safe". I'll add even when dead, as some species "play 'possum". Also, it's possible to get a "reflex bite" from a dead snake, which can be just as dangerous. Finally, like any animal bite, even non-venomous snake bites can be dangerous. They usually aren't, be better safe than sorry.

Kill it, especially if it's in a residential area. A sick snake could still bite a curious kid or something.

id help it anyway possable.. hell i pick snails up off the path and put them in bushes or on grass so ppl dont walk on them, and i move worms of the concrete inacse the get burnt by the sun or walked on :D

Thank you! Now I know I'm not the only guy in the world that does that! :p

Regardless though, about that poor snake, I'd probably help it out the best I could at the time. If I happened to be out in the field somewhere, I could probably do very little for it. If I was in a pet shop or zoo, however, I'd just walk up to one of the keepers and tell em, "Hey, your snake is sick." I'd likely even be nice enough to point out which particular snake was sick. ^_^

However, considering I have no clue how to diagnose a snake to check it's health, the reality of it is that I would likely just avoid the thing as soon as I saw it.

Would it be possible to help it without getting bit?

That is what the dude on TV did. He did not get bitten.

The snake died, as I mentioned earlier, but that really was the fault of very job-conscious traffic-cops.

Hypothermia? it was freezing? then I would not fear getting bit for the snake probably couldn't move well or fast. I would've placed it in the sun where it could warm up.

Hmm.. hyperthermia.

I'll leave it alone.

Killing it is a bad idea - it has every "right" to exist as I do. And trying to help it is, as several others have pointed out, dangerous to both the snake and the helper.

Exactly so.

As Zendragon pointed out, venomous snakes, like firearms, should never be treated as "safe". I'll add even when dead, as some species "play 'possum". Also, it's possible to get a "reflex bite" from a dead snake, which can be just as dangerous. Finally, like any animal bite, even non-venomous snake bites can be dangerous. They usually aren't, be better safe than sorry.

I'm really surprised how many people say they'd help it. I wonder if they feed bears and get water for rabid dogs, too?

Thank you! Now I know I'm not the only guy in the world that does that! :p


I do too. ;)

As for the snake, having no idea myself how to help it, I'd simply call a vet.

Encountering a snake in France, especially in an urban area, is fairly unlikely, though.

Just because snakes are dangerous we should let them die?

Does that apply to other dangerous animals too?

Does it apply to dangerous people?



Yes. Not "just because snakes are dangerous" either. You cant prevent snakes or any other creature from death even if you desperately wanted to anyway. 1 animal born to 1 animal death is and always will be a direct 1:1 ratio. We might choose how or when one dies we cannot stop it. However if you have the opportunity to endanger your own life by giving mouth to mouth resucitation to a drowning snake for humanitarian reasons I dont have a problem with it. You save all of them you like. I shant.

Yes.

Sometimes it does

I'd leave it alone. While it deserves to live, I've no authority or ability to help it, and my aid might prove patently unhelpful. As Daistallia said.
Kill it, especially if it's in a residential area. A sick snake could still bite a curious kid or something.
So?

Ah...the advantages of living in Ireland.

I'd leave it alone. Extending help or killing it both mean being close and putting yourself in danger. Let it die I say!

Ah...the advantages of living in Ireland.
Just for that I'm going to drop a lorry-load of mambas, rattlers, and vipers into the streets of Belfast. ¬_¬

Just for that I'm going to drop a lorry-load of mambas, rattlers, and vipers into the streets of Belfast. ¬_¬
Should liven the place up anyway :p

Isn't anyone bothered by the fact that if you were succesful in healing said snake, said snake would then possibly endanger your fellow man?
Truth. That's why I always shoot sick people. You never know when they might turn out to be a mass-murdering psychopath.

So?
While a may come across as callous, and about most things I suppose I am, I would honestly feel pretty bad if someone’s’ child, the focus of their life, was killed and I could have easily prevented it.

Depends on what kind of sickness-

Runover by a lawnmower? Skin it, grill it, and marinate it with lawrys cajun seasonings.

Disease? chop it's head off.

It's just a snake.

I'm really surprised how many people say they'd help it. I wonder if they feed bears and get water for rabid dogs, too?

Sort of like covering your head in honey and letting grizzly bears lick it off.....