Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It's winter here in WA and the herps aren't around, so I figured I might as well start a thread on an issue that't regularly debated among my herping friends.

Where do you guys/girls stand on the issue of handling venomous (non-threatened) species?

I've gone back and forth on the issue myself.

On one side, there is the idea that it's an unnecessary risk, and if bitten, the incident only further frightens the general public (who, in general, it already afraid of snakes). This serves only to make conservation efforts that much more difficult.

On the other side, famous conservationists (Irwin, Corwin, Joe Slowinski etc.) regularly handle venomous snakes in order to educate the public (it makes for good TV), and also I'm sure because they find it exciting. Do we have the right to their same adventures, even if we're only herping for personal enjoyment?

Does it make a difference if it's on TV in front of a film crew, vs. being done privately if only to take exciting pictures?

Does it matter to you if it's one of the "less venomous" species (e.g. pygmy rattler, sidewinder)?

So, where do you stand?

Personally I DON'T handle wild venomous unless I intend to take it. In fact I don't even manipulate them with a hook for better pics because usually they then are not in a natural relaxed posture and it makes for poor in situ pics for those that know. If you check this forum lower down you'll see several pics and posts on a small colony of EDB'S I've found and NOT one has ever been disturbed by handling. Also remember you scare the crap out of the snake, possibly injure it, and put yourself in a position to be bitten by handling it. I like and respect them too much to do that to them.......TC

By the way both Irwin and Slowinsky are deceased because of those very things. Their situation was also very different than a recreational herper as well. Irwin did it as a vocation for T.V. audiences and Slowinsky was doing research which requires handling in certain instances.....TC

When you handle a venomous snake in the wild, you are saying that you are willing to suffer the consequences of a bite.

These consequences include
- death
- physical disfigurement (loss of limb, etc)
- negative press to snakes and herpers
- the price. Treatments for snakebite cost $30,000 dollars or more. Where/how will you come up that money (some insurance won't cover it). It can ruin you financially.
- risk of injury or stress to the snake.

Then contrast those consequences against the gains you make. Generally those gains are minimal. And even then, you can generally achieve those gains without ever touching the snake (using hooks, tongs, buckets).

It rarely justifies handling/interfering with the snake.

Unfortunately, handling of hots in the fields often involves a sense of machismo or at least "power" over the dangerous animal.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas