SC man bitten by one of the world's most venomous snakes had other dangerous snakes as pets

Some of the world's most dangerous snakes have been removed from a South Carolina apartment where a man was bitten by one of the venomous reptiles, police said.

The man's condition was described as serious.

A source reported that the victim was bitten by an inland taipan snake and that local hospitals did not have antivenom. Doctors had to obtain it from a medical facility outside the state.

Officers determined that the man's residence may have been home to several wild or dangerous animals and served a search warrant. A family member gave the department permission to collect the snakes. Animal control officers said 14 snakes and two domestic cats were collected and taken.

In the city of Florence there is an ordinance that mentions poisonous snakes and constrictors, but does not prohibit the possession of such snakes.

“No person shall sell, exchange or give away as a pet any carnivorous animal that is not normally domesticated. Such animals include, but are not limited to, those listed in Section 3-1, Definition of Wild Animals,” the regulation states.

The state has not issued a specific ordinance against owning such animals, but states that reselling or keeping the reptiles is not legal. Police said there is no ordinance in Florence County prohibiting the possession of venomous snakes.

According to Florence Police, all of the snakes were humanely euthanized. Police clarified that they attempted to have the snakes collected by numerous professional facilities so they could be examined or exhibited in a professional setting. Those facilities were unable to do so, and the only option was to have them euthanized.

Officials said they tried to persuade other groups and zoos that professionally care for reptiles to take in the animals, but the groups were unaware of the animals' history of care and treatment.

Content from The National Desk is provided by Sinclair, the parent company of FOX45 News.