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

173 opinions on this subject. Enter your opinion at the bottom of this page.
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Mitch on 2003-12-31
Can someone tell me what type of snake hook is great for lifting up debris (not anything too heavy just light thing)? What is the name of the hook and where can you buy it or order it? Also, what is the best type of snake tongs that are relatively not expensive? What is the better tool tongs or hooks? I mean if your going out cruisin lookin for snakes.

Mitch on 2003-12-30
I have free handled many venomous snakes. I do not like to free handle fast venomous snakes such as Mambas, Taipans, King browns etc. I prefere free handling Cottonmouths and rattlers and basically snakes that are not long, thin and aggressive. Cottonmouts in my opinion are the best snakes to 'free handle.'

celticrattler on 2003-12-23
I freehandle a good portion of my own hot snakes every day. I would never handle a friends as care-free *just in case* an accident did happen.
If I allowed someone to freehandle (never will)one of my snakes, and they where bitten, I would feel very terrible, and unprofessional!!
However, I am not saying no-one should or should not freehandle thier OWN snakes. I will say this for people to think about, IF it becomes a second hobby to get bit then that reflects on "EVERYONE!"

Anonymous on 2003-12-19
IT SHOUD BE YOUR OWN OPINION WHY SHOULD YOU TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CANT DO WITH MY BODY IF I MAKE A MISTAKE AND IT KILLS ME MY FALT NOT YOURS

grizz on 2003-12-14
I handle venmous snakes daily,tail and hook method.Mainly cobras and rattlesnakes because they are the ones I have handled for the longest and know how they move,body language,strike zone, and other very important things.I also handle gaboons, water moccasins, copperheads, various vipers, and a rare occasin our mamba and tiapan, but just on occassion till I become more accustomed to their ways.For now it is part of the job and I love doing it and hope to have the chance to learn more.I think complete free handling is for idiots who just make it harder on the rest of us.The state I live in has very limited venemous snake laws,but laws are changed daily because some idiot does something stupid and rurns it for everyone else.So if your are going to handle learn proper ways,it is not a royal python that lays in your lap while you play video games,and head pinching pisses snakes off and they can turn in their skin and you are bitten.watch your snake read his body language, learn his ways,watch the masters like Steve Erwin, and leave your snake alone till you get some idea as to what is going on.

Vipergt on 2003-12-12
You can take your life into your own hands if you want to. I have free handled venomous snakes and probably will again, depending on the circumstances. Unless you really know what your doing sooner or later you will be envenomated.

Anonymous on 2003-12-06
I visit this site once in a while. It is
a good source to find out more about the
mentality of collectors.

I was noticing the comments and I am not sure I was clear on my position, that I posted earlier concerning this topic. I do agree that in awhole collectors should ever handle, much less "freehandle" venomous
snakes.

I even doubt it is a good idea for there to be "hobest" in such a feild.
This however is a matter for one's own personal considerations.

However concerning handling of venomous
animals as part of there studies or career is a different matter.

Now concerning the term "free handling"
I consider this to mean when a snakes
head IS NOT pinned prior to picking it up for legitimate purposes.
Now with this concering, my point is that some snakes such as cobras can be very difficult and sometimes harmful
to the snake. In these cases cobras can be caught by distracting them and subsequently catching them while they are raised or when stretched out close to a surface.

I think a key point to consider here are the different perspectives between the "herper" "collector" and the venom extraction technician. The technician
must be responsible himself to know what he needs to know and do to accomplish his or her objective. He must also be responsible for accidents, the "buck" stops with them!

I have heard negative comments, from "know it alls" concerning Bill Haast's techniques. All I would say
is this man has devoted his life in pursute to know and provide snake venom.
Few have contributed as much as him.

At Serpentoxin caution is the name of the game. I am the only one who ever has contact with any of the venomous
snakes.

LeeMoore@Serpentoxin.com

Anonymous on 2003-11-27
i think know one should be able to handle a venomous snake it could bit you and you could get serverly hurt so that is what i tthink

leptodactylus on 2003-11-23
To say the least, anyone who thinks they can pick up a deadly animal is a moron. I dont see anyone handling a phylobates and think they are he-man. Get some common sense and know to respect the animals and their powers, dont think because you are man that you are in power of everything.

RCampbell on 2003-11-05
Most hot keepers at one time or another in the early years "free" handled snakes. Some more intelligent individuals never do. I can not say I was or am one of the more intelligent people on the planet, I can say that I do not free handle snakes anymore. It isn't worth the risk. Bites can have very serious results, many not realized immediately. I am not talking obvious problems such as potential allergic reactions, or potential antivenom shortages, or even hospital bills...what about raised insurance rates, or droppage from your insurance carriers, denial of permits from authorities due to such practices, and the obvious monkey see monkey do image presented to children. Each of us has to do what we feel is right, just make sure you have given it legitemate thought.

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