I'm waiting to see the fallout of this story. Hots (venomous reptiles) are already banned in Multnomah County (Portland), and have been for a couple decades or so. Interestingly enough, no information about charges were mentioned. The State of Oregon also prohibits keeping Crotalus adamanteus throughout the state (some other Crotalus are legal)

This all comes in the wake of the Mollala family that was keeping a pair of wild deer - also banned by the State with the SAME law that prohibits Mr. Wilkinson from keeping his rattlesnake. In the deer case, there was public outcry from around the WORLD defending this family. Now, I know this Mr. Wilkinson has already lost his buzztail, but I'm curious to see what happens in the long run with this case.

I'm a long time reptile keeper (no venomous) and lover. If any charges are pending, I'd love to think that people have the integrity to support Mr. Wilkinson as well.

Like Forrest Gump said, "Stupid is as stupid does."

Here's another account of someone anthropomorphizing the actions of an animal into human terms. What is the rattlesnake supposed to think while it's being stuck in some other creature's mouth? "Oh, he's my friend, and he won't eat me!"

Hopefully, others will learn a lesson from this and stop making little people out of animals. They do not think in the same terms as we do. The sooner that's learned, the safer they'll be.

I am glad that Matt recovered from this incident.

Perhaps this report should mention that the snake shown is not a rattlesnake, just for clarity's sake. It seems like the reporter may be suggesting that we are looking at a rattlesnake, which is not the case.

This man is quite possibly the dumbest person on the face of the earth. It's actually "kind of" your fault?? Not "kind of" moron, this is ALL your fault! Nice work!

He's lucky he survived. But...holy snakepit,Batman! I don't think I'd want to put myself on TV after this stunt. I wonder how my hits on U-Tube he'll get? Lessons learned, buddy...lessons learned.

wow... that's all I can muster up.

That is the single most hardcore thing I have ever seen someone live through. You are a true hero, Matt, and a paragon of manliness.

The bumper stick quote sums it all up. "YOU! OUT OF THE GENE POOL!"

Any person dumb enough to put a live rattlesnake in their mouth deserves to die. In fact once Mr. Lovely fully recovers he should be beaten senseless and left in the wilderness to fend for himself. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Ok the guy is stupid for putting a rattlesnake in his mouth. But the video of the story is misleading. The snake that they show is not a poisonous rattlesnake, but rather a common, NON-POISONOUS gopher snake. The reporter never actually says that the snake you are looking at is a rattlesnake, but the video story implies that it is. More misleading BS from the media.

Any chance they sterilized this guy while he was in the coma? Some people should not be allowed to reproduce. Stupid human trick, indeed!

"That is the single most hardcore thing I have ever seen someone live through. You are a true hero, Matt, and a paragon of manliness." Posted by Someone

And, of course, he is a complete and utter idiot. If I were posting in support of such an insufferably stupid act, I would also remain anonymus!

who would do something like that? that's really stupid

Too darn bad he didn't win his well-deserved Darwin Award - maybe next time! They really should have neutered this dude in the coma.

Cut the poor reporter dude some slack! The talking-head nitwit probably doesn't know a garter snake from a Burmese python. Geeez...

I want to know who is paying for this idiot's stupidity? He certainly hasn't paid enough into his insurance plan to fund his little 4 day medically induced coma and all the other treatments he had to receive just to be kept away from a Darwin Award. So, the answer is: You and I, my friends! We are paying for his stupidity. He should have been left for dead - anyone brainless enough to stick a juvenile rattlesnake in his mouth deserves what the critter gives him.

This act can be classified as abusive along with being completely stupid. I think Matt should never be allowed to own snakes, much less other animals. If this had happened to a mammal or other "cute" animal, there would be a huge public outcry and he would be charged with animal cruelty.

The original story from AP said he had recently caught the snake near his home. That would make it a North Pacific Rattlesnake (sub-species of the western rattlesnake) not an eastern diamondback, not even a western diamondback. Reporters are almost as stupid as this guy, if that is possible.The story I read was quite different.

I think this guy is insane and should be put away for life. And yes who is paying for his stupidity. I'm thinking the snake shoul have won.And does not deserve to live. What a bad Idotic example he is to the younger generation.