Foreign Rattlesnakes?

Tom Lehman TLEHMAN at lor.net
Tue Sep 21 19:15:38 PDT 1999


Professor Bitten by Rattlesnake

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- An ecologist who has spent decades

studying snakes was bitten by one of his subjects Tuesday and

found slumped at the bottom of a stairwell, unconscious and

foaming at the mouth.

Howard Reinert, a biology professor at The College of New

Jersey, was in critical condition Tuesday night. Authorities

believe Reinert was working in his rooftop laboratory when he

was bitten on his left hand.

The cries of Reinert's 4-year-old daughter alerted people in the

building that her father was hurt. The girl was ``hysterical'' and

could provide no information to police about what happened,

campus policeman Richard Cook said.

Police evacuated the three-story building for about an hour

while they accounted for all the snakes. The alleged culprit -- a

type of rattlesnake called a Crotalus horridus -- was found in

Reinert's lab. The reptile, about 2 feet long, was in a burlap bag

in a white bucket in a sink.

Reinert's research revolves around native and nonnative species

of rattlesnakes.

Assistant Professor Marcia O'Connell said she did not think

Reinert's infliction would be life-threatening because he was

most likely given an anti-venom right away.



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