Free Handling and Venomous Snakes.
November 22, 2011
Today it seems like there is a plethora of people who think that it is okay for them to free handle venomous snakes because "they have years of experience." Before I proceed, let me be clear, I am not saying that you do not have years of experience but if you are free handling you either have bad experience or are disregarding your experience.
Even non-venomous snake keepers understand that even the most predictable reptiles can be unpredictable. I have had an old corn snake bite a kid during an educational talk and a black and white tegu clamp onto my hand shortly after I uttered the words "it will not bite". Learning from those mistakes, I know never to assume that an animal will not bite and anytime I am asked now, I respond with "anything with a mouth can bite"
