Venomous viper destroyed after biting owner

A 31-year-old man who nearly died after being bitten by a venomous African snake will now face a hefty fine after allegedly violating a city bylaw barring people from having the creatures inside city limits.

The man, who was not named by police, was reportedly released from St. Boniface General Hospital this week after being rushed there Oct. 20 when a Gaboon viper bit him on the face.

He was able to tell staff what happened before losing consciousness from the viper's lethal venom. Antivenin had to be flown in from the Toronto Zoo.

Police said the man has now been identified as the snake's owner, and they have confirmed the snake was destroyed by some of the man's friends shortly after he was bitten. They have not recovered the snake's remains, but say they have gathered enough statements from witnesses to confirm the snake is now dead.

In the day or so following the incident, it wasn't immediately clear if the snake was at large in the city. The victim didn't fess up to police until recently that he was the owner of the exotic snake.

Const. Jacqueline Chaput said the man will now face a maximum $1,000 fine under the city's exotic pets bylaw, which bans people from owning and keeping venomous snakes, crocodiles and other potentially volatile creatures inside city limits. She suggested the snake-bite victim shouldn't take the prospect of having to pay the fine too hard. "I think a fine is something that one would welcome and have your life rather than have tragic consequences," Chaput said.