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Speak Out: Where do you stand on “free handling” of venomous snakes.

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Spartacus on 2005-01-28
I don't live with "hot" or "cold" or even "lukewarm" herps. However, for years, I have had purebred cats and alley cats. I've also had psitticine birds (budgies and a cockatiel) as "pets." I put the word "pets" in quotations because my experience has been that ANY creature, even the most apparently gentle and loving (including co-called "hand-raised" babies) will turn on its human custodians (or fellow species) at the slightest provocation.

My kitty-birds and birdy-cats have all had "bad hair days"...and I've got the scars to prove it. Even got a bad infection in my hand from a cat bite (from my favorite "baby", natch). Recovered nicely after spending a king's ransom on antibiotics. (And they say snake spit is toxic! Cat spit is a close second!) I refuse to have a dog; I consider them too big, too aggressive and too unpredictable. Maybe that's because I was tree'd by a neighbor's pit bull once...but I digress...

I don't believe in keeping "hot" herps as "pets," much less "free handling" them. But then again, I'm getting to the point I don't believe in keeping ANY animal as a pet, despite the fact that I have 3 surviving cats (down from 7), 1 cockatiel, and 9 budgies. (Gotta say though that budgies are like peanuts...one isn't enough.)

No, I'm not a PETA freak. I DESPISE that organization. Where the hell is PETA when it comes to the so-called "pet" trade? They get anal about hunters, who quite frankly kill animals far more humanely and quickly than predators do. But PETA says not a damn word about snakes, hot or otherwise, kept in dark, damp shoeboxes in a clueless teen-ager's basement; or puppy or kitty breeding mills; or the smuggling of endangered parrots or frogs in dirty raincoats; or breeding budgies (parakeets) so closely they are what veterinarians call "tumor mills" and live a couple of years if they're lucky (the budgies I have now are third-generation descended from Wal-Mart specials and those I rescued from nasty pet stores); or the thoroughbred racing "industry" where the horses are bred so closely they go postal at the slightest breeze and their bones are matchstick-thin. Have you ever seen a thoroughbred horse whose front legs were broken in a race but was bred to run so it still kept running on the bleeding stumps? I have. The glamor of the Kentucky Derby has lost its luster since then.

So I don't judge you hot herp lovers who keep deadly snakes in your basements (though I hope to hell you're not a neighbor of mine). You're no better or worse than any of us hominids that inflict ourselves on non-humans.

Yes, I have had my cats declawed in the past. (That is akin to amputating fingers in a human being.) Mea culpa! I see the inhumanity in that now. And I see the same inhumanity in those herp keepers who want "venomoids."

Got way off base from free handling, didn't I?

Respectfully submitted,

Typical Hominid

Zanewaldo on 2005-01-08
I am truly impressed with the people's opinions regarding free handling of wild Pit-Vipers. I read alot of respect for these wonderful, helpful, yet dangerous creatures and it gives me hope that youngsters won't be mis-led by showboating television acts. These handlers are professionals, most of whom take weekly shots, and are in constant contact with the snakes they display. If you do find a situation where the snake presents itself suitably for handling, please have the sense to use a tool in the other hand!
russell@rattlesnakecapture.com

blackbayouherper on 2004-12-30
The human/animal connection is a special one. Until they are conditioned to do so, no animal on earth has a desire to touch a human much less bond with us. What makes us so interesting is that we will risk our lives to have a relationship with an animal. Whether it is a zoo keeper that takes care of bengal tigers or the obsessed herper who is madly in love with his taipan, we will sacrifice good sense for a pinch of something greater. It is at the core of our soul. Getting to the point though - whatever you feel when you "tail", "tube", "hook", or just flat out pick up a hot snake is thrilling and can be quite spiritual that is why we are even attending a venomous snake website, but I am absolutely convinced that I have an outstanding chance of losing one of my fingers or even my hand or arm if I keep trying to have a more "natural" relationship with the Cottonmouths that I so often encounter. As a drummer and the proud owner of 8 flexibly digited fingers and 2 highly evolved opposable thumbs I for one hope that I never have a bite picture to contribute to this great site.

Atrox9 on 2004-12-28
Hi Folks:
This guy Nick must be a beginner who watches too much TV, My fear is that he will spread his views to some kid and we all know what the results will be! We all have taken a chance at one time or another like getting something out of the Vivarium by hand instead of useing a hook and gotten away with it. However to constantly press your luck is an insult to G-D and the Snake and sooner or later it will end. It is bad enough that Nick will be bitten but we all will pay for his stupidity by the negative press that he will recieve. I can speak for most of us when I say that we LOVE our charges but we reaolize it is a one sided love. Our Cats love us, our Dogs love us but our snakes tolerate us to a point, and that is that. I hope and pray that he does not try and teach some dumb kid his style, although it might take someones death to bring him back to Earth.
Snakes are Snakes, are they Smart? "YES", Are they fast? "VERY FAST", Are they capable of tender emotions? "NO", The two emotions a snake does have is fear and anger, both can lead to a bad bite.....
Please treat your charges with respect and loving care but dont expect it back. Im going to rest now so Larry or Bobby its your turn to talk some sence into him.
Nuf for now
Atrox9

rattlesnake2 on 2004-12-25
I agree 100% with what Mr. Hudson has to say here. Very well stated.

Anonymous on 2004-04-11
Free handling venomous requires LOTS of expierience. Yes it is VERY VERY true that using the "grab behind the head method" is very painfull and stressfull to the snake. It can also cause damage to the snake if squeezed to tightly. I find from tons of past expierience that if one must free handle a venomous snake that person should only "tale" it and then use a hook to support the rest of its body. So basically if you are an actuall dedicated herper you should know that any stress brought to ANY snake is an unsuccesfull trip.
By: Bryan Hudson

biggin on 2004-11-30
you hold it how you want but you risk the chance of getting bit each time i personally would not. if you even try you should know that snake well so you know the attitude of it if you have a placid snake go on do it but you better have the antivenom just in case you get bit

catusco on 2004-11-30
Freehandling should certainly never be encouraged and should be avoided at all costs. However with that said some of the greatest herpetologists have been bitten and multiple times at that. Bill Hast (sorry if I've misspelled it) is a legend in the field of herpetology and has been bitten numerous times. He is not a "failure" for getting bitten. There are also those individuals who MUST manually extract venom for the purpose of making anti-venin. They are not failures and some may say they owe there lives to those brave individuals.
But freehandling a venomous snake to impress your friends or to bolster your ego or for the sense of danger are without question STUPID.

rosspadilla on 2004-11-25
Free handling a hot snake has got to be the dumest thing a person can do. Have respect for your life and your loveones feelings.

jared_cormier on 2004-11-13
I've been bitten by a very pissed off female cottonmouth, entirely my mistake, and my finger has about 1" of scar tissue between the second and third segments (pretty much the entire region) and it still hurts, always will hurt, it is very much a mistake to free-handle hot snakes!

croccurator on 2004-10-05
It hurts to get bit. Not just the bite. If you survive you will always be a mistake in my eyes.

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