NEWS: Eaten by his pet spiders!

CULTURE: Man Devoured By Pet Spiders

Too full from your Easter dinner for that pecan pie? Nibble on this story for a little late night treat.

*screaches and runs*

that is why I have tropical fish for pets

jesus.

jesus.

Fuck. ing. Nasty.

Didn't this happen to another dude awhile ago? Or is this the same guy?

Who says people who own pets live longer .

I think they can be. If not treated, but that goes for almost anything.

i was thinking the same thing.

a 1% chance of death from envenomation - those at most risk are elderly and children

Not one bite, but many bites will kill you.

I'm skeptical.

The venom of the black widow is a neurotoxin. It primarily causes systemic symptoms with little local damage at the bite site and no local necrosis. The venom mediates its effects through an initial release of massive amounts of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions. Latrotoxin is specific to nerve terminals; no direct release of transmitters from the adrenal medulla has been shown. As depolarization of the membrane occurs, a Ca++-dependent release of neurotransmitters down the concentration gradient ensues. Reuptake of the neurotransmitters appears to be blocked as well.


Frequency:


In the US: The incidence of envenomation from black widow spiders is unknown.
Internationally: The incidence of envenomation from black widow spiders is unknown.
Mortality/Morbidity: More than 13,000 spider bites were reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers in 1997, with no deaths; over 1300 of the bites were described as moderate or severe. The reported death rate from documented bites occurs in less than 1% of reported cases. Young children appear to be at highest risk for a lethal bite.

Age: Envenomation can occur in people at any age. The very young, the very old, and persons with cardiovascular disease are at increased risk for complications.

from http://www.emedicine.com/derm/byname/black-widow-spider-bite.htm

edited because someone was much quicker and more thorough then I.

[Edited on Apr 11, 2004 by handle]

Well they should know these are radioactive spiders that will turn into eight legged freaks and.. err, wrong article.

Seriously though, my impression was that "Why are all the cages open?" and I assumed he was murdered and then they let all the pets go to eat him. But I think it's a fake, too, just because wouldn't the spiders try to eat the lizards too? Bugs tend not to work in harmony against humanity

That paper is a reliable source...my speculation is he wanted to die that way.

Apparently you havent been bitten by a black widow...it really sucks it really really sucks..

I saw a Discovery Channel show on spiders a while back and they said BW bites are deadly, but because of the anti-venom deaths are rare.

Great, way to give Geckoes a bad name!

/favorite.lizard.ever!

I love the line "Some of his spiders are so aggressive they're the equivalent of the pit-bull in the animal world."

Does that strike anyone else as hilarious?