Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey! i go upstate ny every summer to my summer house. me and my 2 friends go snake hunting, im 15 my friends is 13 and the other is 13 also. when we go up there is very little to do so we snake hunt. There havnt been alot of reports for hot upthere beside my friend grandpa who got bit by a copperhead like 10 yrs ago he is fine now with a really nice pic of it on his arm.

i bought a snake hook for when we go just incase we see some hotts to make sure we dont get taged. i just mad 3 more hooks one little one like a 1/2 opening , 1.5 inc opening and 2 in one i have a 2.5 one so. i mad them just incase we see babys - parents.

my question my question is timbers/copperheads how deadly is there bite from a baby or a parent?

also what would be the best tong to by from midwest, i was looing at the normal one and the gental. size/anything else i would need.

last question

is there any rattle snakes that venom is not harmful to parents.
i want to know bc rattle snake are my fav hot i always wanted one but thanks to the ny law i g2g move when im older.

also can you post a pic of it or a link to where i can see then

thanks alot tom
-----
tom

1.1 bearded dragons
1.0 black rough neck monitor
0.1 ball python
1.0 black lab
0.1 dal. terrior

NEXT reptile is gunna be one of the following!
1.0 columbian red-tail boa(pastel)

im making hat that says for the narbc show in pa
NARBC 2005!
HERPS RULE!
(MAYBE WITH BDKING15 UNDER THAT)COPYRIGHT BY (BDKING15)

Hi Tom. First off I'd like to say that timber rattlesnakes have a relatively toxic venom and bites can be very bad. There was even a fatal bite this year. On that note, you need to be very careful. The NYSDEC frowns upon ANY type of harrassing their protected wildlife....IE don't do anything but take pictures and enjoy the snakes as they are. If anyone sees you messing with timber's or massasauga's, you CAN get into trouble. As far as copperheads go, their bite is not normally known to be fatal, but anaphylaxis is always a concern. Not to mention, the bite is known to be quite painful. I've heard it referred to as putting your hand in hot grease, and having the pain last for hours or days. If you do find copper's in the wild in NY, consider yourself lucky, as they are pretty hard to find.
Good luck, have fun, and be safe.
Hope this helps.
TJP

yea that is all i really want to do is take reallly nice pic bc i got a new camra for christmas($500 from my parents with a like 50-300 zoom lens) and already when throught loike 39 rooles of 36 pic just of my bd ball and rough neck monitor, the only i would touch them is with a 52 ic tong and a 36 inch hook. i would move them to a nice big rock and take come pic them if a den is neer put them in it and get more pic. i dont on plan on touvhing them well even finding out.

what is a good tong from midwest.
and also i want a hott when i get out of school gunna be in a long time bc i want to be a exotic vet. what would be a good starter hot one that gets like mid size and the venom isnt as deadly as some others

thanks alot tom
-----
tom

1.1 bearded dragons
1.0 black rough neck monitor
0.1 ball python
1.0 black lab
0.1 dal. terrior

NEXT reptile is gunna be one of the following!
1.0 columbian red-tail boa(pastel)

im making hat that says for the narbc show in pa
NARBC 2005!
HERPS RULE!
(MAYBE WITH BDKING15 UNDER THAT)COPYRIGHT BY (BDKING15)

don't even tough them with hooks. That is considered harassment by DEC standards and is grounds to get a fine.

I would recommend, you check with your closest zoo and see if they have a volunteer program for working with reptiles. Start off by practicing your hooking/handling skills on VERY NASTY non-venomous species, such as northern water snakes and black racers. These species will test your patience and skills, as they are quick, agile and very ill-tempered. You will find it surprising, that handling rattlesnakes is very simple and not really a test of ones skills, relative to the more agile non-venomous species. Then after you've turned 18, look for a captive born copperhead. They are mellow, not likely to kill you if bitten, and easy to handle.

In fact, in order to keep sharp when hooking mambas or cobras, I would often practice on Asian red-tailed rat snakes and Coachwhips, as they were similar in habits and agility.

n/m.

With regard to your quest for a snake hook, I would recommend the cage hook for your age and size. The one that's about 36 inches long or so. The gentle giant hook is for very heavy bodied snakes, and would be awkward in field situations. The one that Midwest calls a field hook, is a nice hook too, and could also be called a "stump ripper" but its quite a bit more costly too.

As far as which snake is the "least venomous" everyone has different reactions to venom, so even the less respected copperhead has the potential to be deadly. You should treat them all with the same respect and distance. There is absolutely no reason under the sun to get near the "business end" of a venomous snake when observing them in the wild.

i have a 36in hook already i use that alot bc i dont wana tounch the smell garters, wow they stink.

i do love copperheads, they are really nice looking, im planing getting a cvolumbian red tail for my b day this yr at the narbc show in pa. so i would prolbly get a tong anyway to get him out ofr his cage or use my hook.i either am gunna get a nother hook or tong bc where we go it is my friend grandpas land which is like 2 acres, he use to have chickens so there is abandon barn and we alway find snakes there so i use my hook to lift up the wood and i want a nother one so i can grab them or pick them.

so what would be better the gental or the one like austin steven uses.

thanka again
-----
tom

1.1 bearded dragons
1.0 black rough neck monitor
0.1 ball python
1.0 black lab
0.1 dal. terrior

NEXT reptile is gunna be one of the following!
1.0 columbian red-tail boa(pastel)

im making hat that says for the narbc show in pa
NARBC 2005!
HERPS RULE!
(MAYBE WITH BDKING15 UNDER THAT)COPYRIGHT BY (BDKING15)

Go to www.auntievenom.com, you may see some hooks and tools you might like.
Cheers
Brett
www.auntievenom.com

mine computer says cant find website and is THAT YOUR WEBSITE, does it come with a guarntee, and wehat is that like ladle for the white thing and no offense i like midwest.

thanks anyway
-----
tom

1.1 bearded dragons
1.0 black rough neck monitor
0.1 ball python
1.0 black lab
0.1 dal. terrior

NEXT reptile is gunna be one of the following!
1.0 columbian red-tail boa(pastel)

im making hat that says for the narbc show in pa
NARBC 2005!
HERPS RULE!
(MAYBE WITH BDKING15 UNDER THAT)COPYRIGHT BY (BDKING15)

This is just my opinion, but Austin Stevens has got to be one of the most irresponsible people on TV and not exactly what I would consider a good role model.