I received this on another forum. Keep in mind the guy claims to have a PHD.
"i read you guys mainly to learn. I handle hot snakes as a hobby. Mostly catching for the sheriffs and police departments when they have a problem.
I have been retired from the military now for a little over ten years and up until resently Its been the normal stuff Rattle Snakes and water Mocs and some copperheads. Lots of king snakes and bull snakes even get called for silly garter snakes. Bad when policeman dont know what they are looking for.
But since Aug we have gotten some really bad boys come in. Three South American Rattle Snakes and two puff adders from Iraq One King Cobra we are still gessing Africa. the others we could write off to maybe hitching a ride on a military aircraft.. We have three bases here in Oklahoma. But the Cobra didnt come from a militry lift. Nuthing they are doing came anywhere near that part of the world. You can amagine our surprise to pull out a five foot cobra.
this was a pet of some real moron who knew nuthing about what he is dealing with. I have been biten once by a water moc and spent three weeks in the hosp. He hit me in Alabama and it was in the high 90s and the doc figured he must of just hit a rat because I had a really bad infection. Once by a tipan in Mayasia. He also did a number on me. I have handeled rattlers for over thirty five years and have never been hit and I have done God only knows how meny demos and exsibits. Never been hit by a copperhead. But the number of bites are getting really high higher than ever and that is pritty much nation wide. Dont know if you guys are running into that. Somthing else thats really strange is for some reason the venom is getting much stronger.
Im working on my license and permits to keep six tipans and two monical cobras for study. I have completed my PHd and have a place where Im well away from routine contact by over six miles. the snakes are going into a basement housing area all concrete. plus steel doors three to get to main floor of house so there are slim chances of any excapes. Plus I do believe the winter would kill them anyway if they did get out and not get seen. If our desert didnt do it before.
I have learned a lot from you guys who keep them as a hobby. I dont study snakes persay but posion. Im more into spiders and the reactions from them. But snakes have become so damn fasanating. they fear nuthing, will adapt to about anything. The fact they show no emotion really gets to me. spiders telagraph they are under stress, so do most other animals. A snake may be ready to hit and he may well look calm and happy. Just got a pet emerald boa the other day. Hes adapting nicely. Had to move him to the main house though. He could hear my rattlers and it made him edgy so we moved him to a nice heated tank on main floor and hes happy as he can be. Hope to get a female later. This is a hobby study. Im retired. Working on a trip to Madagascar to double dip study with snakes and Religion my main area of study far as work is conserned.
Do any of you keep tiapans or cobras. I have had a few boas for a couple of years but not to interested in them. they are very gental and calm. The hot snakes are what really get me going. I have gotten enough credability with Sheriff and County folks to get permitted for what I have now. Love it. Keep writing I enjoy reading when you guys write. Normally to busy to write much but down with virus and under good meds so please forgive poor writing skills."
And for a second round!
"Just found out the other day a dumb ass at OKC Flea market had two Helga Monsters for sale. and around 100 red scorpions. From Mexico I hope to get the bugies at least a few of them.
People never surprise me how stupid they can be.
Ya I play with some bad things but its for a better good and I hopefully know what I'm doing and I have protection there.
Did you know there are 9 states that have no laws concerning pet snakes. Most states only have city ords. Ours is kinda tough but with our large number of good oh boys not a real bad idea. I once helped on a drug raid and the guy had 200 rattlesnakes in fish tanks. His intent was kick them over for an escape. He got hit trying to feed them. we got called in for a rescue that turned into a pretty good drug bust.
The boys down South sure had their hands full for awhile after the floods cleared. Bet that was snake city.
Funny My wife has four McCall's and some other darn birds and I had a tape playing on tiepins and had to stop it the birds went nuts. Guess they can see pretty well. Waiting for one of my snakes to eat one of her birds and then I will see what the alimony will be ha. She lost a poodle a few years ago I played that one off OK. That was killed by a baby crock I had at the time. He wasn't two feet long yet and got out of a 5ft horse tank we never did figure that one out.
See all soon hopefully reading anyway"
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Tim Cole
www.Designeratrox.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
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Conservation through Education
