Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This was in one of the photo galleries on venomousreptiles.org, and TE (Nightflight99) posted it so maybe he has more insight into what happened, but I can't say I feel sorry for the guy as he would have had to put himself in this position by freehanding and holding what appears to be a C.v.helleri next to his face! Goes without saying, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!

AP

damn, pic didn't show up, here's the link
What not to do with a hot

Good post. Helps all keep in mind the possible strike range. This kind of thing moves everyone back a few inches. As far as actual freehandling goes I think everyone knows it it not wise.
I, like many, have got too close when cleaning and feeding when you see the strike range possibilities. Be careful.
Wingert

Yes, I know most on here know that freehandling hots isn't the brightest thing one can do, but this picture takes the cake...for a snake to tag you in the face, you have got to make SEVERAL insane handling errors, this does not look like it was a simple momentary lapse of judgement...we are all human, and we all make mistakes, that is why we all know that at some point in the keeping of venomous snakes, the odds are against us, and we are going to get tagged...but we have to insure that we do not directly put ourselves in harms way like this poor fool obviously did....

Unless I'm completely mistaken, the moron in question got beered-up and tried to kiss the snake.
Bill Huseth

Boy, that's smart...alcohol can make people do some stupid sh**, and who knows, if i was drunk, i might try the same, but that's exactly why if I'm drinking, I don't go ANYWHERE near my snakes, not even my non-venomous! That's gotta be one of the top 3 golden rules of hot keeping: NEVER WORK WITH A HOT SNAKE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS!!!!!!!!! It baffles me how many people (some that I know) seem to think that they will be just as quick and alert drunk as they are sober! Ridiculous...

AP