Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking to know from whoever wants to answer, what technnique do you prefer for catching rattlersinning or Tailing and why? I'm only 14 and haven't caught one yet but I WILL CATCH ONE SOON! I think when I catch my first I'll try tailing because pinning probably puts to much stress on the snake. For my fist rattler catch I want to catch a sidewinder or a Speckled rattlesnake. So let me know what you guys prefer.

Later,

COOK

Tailing should NOT be used for any viper type, contrary to what you may have observed on television (often involving someone showing off with tame or refridgerated snakes). They can easily nail you if you try. Using a snakehook or tongs to move into a container is the safest way. I suggest strongly that you learn from someone competent to teach before you try it on your own. Otherwise you are very likely to end up in the hospital. Working with venomous snakes is no different than any other complex task, it is better to be taught the proper way of doing it rather than having to learn things the hard way (which in this case can have fatal consequences).

Cheers
Bryan
-----
Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
Deputy Director
Australian Venom Research Unit
University of Melbourne

www.venomdoc.com

There is no need to handle the snake whatsoever. The best way for a beginner to start (with an experienced person supervising, at 14 it should be with parental consent and supervision also) is to simply learn to lift the snake on a hook and place it into a box or bucket with a secure lid. If I need to collect anything I carry a couple of plastic gallon jars (with air holes drilled or burned into them!)and a couple of gatorade bottles in my pack. I use the plastic containers like tubes. I stretch the snake out with my hook to get it crawling and then place the bottle out in front of it till it inserts its head. A light tap on the tail sends it the rest of the way into the bottle. Again, no need to touch the snake at all, but this method should be reserved till later when you have experience and a much better understanding of the snakes and their body language.

Like Bryan said you WIll get bit trying to tail a pitviper or any other viper for that matter. Sidewinders and mitchelli are a bad place to start working with crotes anyway. Work with someone who already has experience and learn all you can before you risk your life and other members of your family. Also stop watching those shows that use careless techniques for sensationalism.

Cook, have you ever been out catching non venomous snakes and been bitten? if you insist on grabbing snakes with your hands, any type of snake you will get bitten. Read up on venomous snake bites and what the venom does to your body. When i was your age I wanted to do exactly what you want. I studied up on the venom and its effects and changed my mind. look and some of the snake bite pics, and those are the lucky ones, still alive. if you pin and viper and you are not 100% sure what you are doing, those long fangs will get you. sometimes the fang will come out of its mouth and below the bottom lip to your fingers if you don't do it just right. be cautious, for your mother's sake. get all the equipment to make you safe. use chaps or gaiters and hooks or grabbers. better to be safe than sorry. Most important, don't let the "cool factor" cloud you judgement. take care bud. chris

Clear platic tubes are inexpensive & the safest way (for you & the snake) to capture/move HOT snakes. Once you get there head in the appropriate size tube, you bump the body & they shoot right up inside the tube. Grab the body when it halfway in & you are good to go. Just be careful!! I buy my tubes from BEST Exotics. Contact me if you need their contact info.

Dude,
Like the crock hunter stated “Don’t muck with it ". Rattlers can easily come back on their own bodies and tag you. If you try to hold the head, and do it wrong? You get a fang in the finger and end up on Venom ER, The NBC4 news, and if lucky the kingsnake.com news section.

I understand the fascination with aggressive snakes, as so does everyone else who hangs out in this form, but common brother. You are 14! You have many years ahead of you to gain experience, patience, and maturity. Start out with the mean snakes that most likely won’t kill you and will only hurt when they bite. Try a Carpet python, Scrub Python, or even a mangrove snake. All have great attitudes and usually love to bite (ouch).

On the real, I would hate to read or hear about you down the road as another snake bite statistic. I have worked with many rattlesnakes that are sneaky. They will act mellow and non agitated, but as soon as you touch them bare handed, WAMMO they tagged you.
This is my two cents.
Good luck
Jason

It goes without saying that no rattlesnake should ever be handled in either of these fashions by someone without experience. Even experienced professionals get bitten all the time by tailing and pinning hots. These are NOT failsafe procedures! Accidents happen, and are guarenteed to happen if you don't know what your doing...don't be fooled by TV shows, don't make your mom cry when she has to see your necrotisized arm every day because you attempted to "tail" a rattlesnake without knowing what you were getting into. Always use a hook and NEVER touch a hot with your bare hands...there are many exceptions, but for now that should be the rule for you. Snakes can do some suprising acrobatics, and you don't want to learn this the hard way...good luck to you...

AP

There truly is no need to handle venomous snakes (I presume you're not milking them for legitimate research or business purposes). I've captured many venomous snakes. The only time I ever handled them was when I was young and it was out of sheer curiosity (and stupidity)- actually, let's be honest, handling venomous snakes is generally an adolescent adrenalin rush thing, and stupidity is required. I've kept several atrox, contortrix, and lepidus without ever touching them. All you need are several containers, a long hook, and a human brain. (the human brain is required for you to understand that even approaching the striking range of the snake is a very bad idea).

Actually, an ADULT human brain may be required as research cognitive science shows that the portion of the brain responsible for forthought and processing of the consequences of one's actions is not fully developed until the early 20's. In other words, teenagers may very well be stupid after all.

Please prove me wrong and keep your hands off venomous snakes.

I would have to go with tailing, but make sure that you use a hook or a pitching wedge or something.
Good Luck,
Crotalid king
Stats (2 ruber, 1 cerastes, 1 atrox, and 2 scutalatus, 2 adamanteus, and 2 horridus)
P.S. Do not listen to these other guys, i have been tailing venomous snakes for 10 years now and have never once been envenomated. You are young and have much better reflexes than us old timers.

This post may be dead now, so maybe no one will read this, but this is for you Crotalid King...Dont you think it's a bit irresponsible telling an excited 14 year old kid that he SHOULD go out and tail venomous snakes? I agree, if done right, tailing is much safer than pinning, but neither of these activities should be done by a kid with NO experience with hots...as he stated. You might be too old to remember what it's like to be 14, but I do, and let me tell you, common sense is not always a part of your vocabulary at that age. IMHO, this kid just seemed too enthusiastic to be told to go ahead and tail rattlers, and not listen to the advice of older, more experienced herpers. Just my .02

AP

Pinning and tailing venomous herps, particularly crotalids, will only put you in the hospital or you will wind up dead; either way, it is completely avoidable...mostly because a 14 year old child has no business messing with rattlesnakes. Right now, just concentrate on mastering basic handling techniques by mentoring under someone who is well respected in your area (if possible).

Responsible keepers of venomous herps will utilize instruments such as hooks, tongs (I like Midwest's Gentle Giant), and tubes to "handle" venomous snakes. It is important to have a thorough understanding of each tool. Your brevado is to be admired but with youth comes stupidity and I sure would hate to see you become a statistic. Rob

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation (IL)

In my experience tailing any viprid is a exercise in wanting to go to the hospital for extended time, elaphids are another story, but again not for novices. personally I use a hook and only if I know I can safely get the tail and hook the forepart for control of the head, but these guys can recoil over their body length with alarming speed and you could find your self holding on to their head instead unless you react VERY fast. Pinning is the surest way I know for a dead snake
vertibrae are very delicate, and the tendecy for the snakes to almost always go into axial rolls and damage their spine is almost a certiany, as a side note pinning also so traumatizes a snake that they seldom feed, simply sulk food- if mouth has food in it they can't protect themself, and you shewn your self to be a threat. Tongs are the best to secure if used correctly will not harm the snake at all and minimumizes stress to both snake and captor. My Thoughts for what they are worth
Barry