Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'll set the scene: It's a cool, overcast day in southeast Peru. I was part of a wildlife monitoring project created to study the effects of eco-tourism on wildlife. We walked a few transects after breakfast and found nothing. Instead of going back to the lodge where my comfortable bed and cool shower were the coordinator wanted to check our pitfall trap about a mile away.

The three of us started walking and I was especially mopey, not happy to have to walk an extra mile in the mud just to empty buckets of spiders and ants (which were usually the only things we found in our traps.) I was comfortably zoned-out as I followed Brian, the lead herpetologist's footsteps when suddenly he froze and bent down to put his hand on a snake whose mere size instantly made me think, "Bushmaster!" I tried to yell out a warning as I stepped around him but when I saw the rest of the snake all I could mumble was awestruck jibberish.

He was uninterested in our presence for the most part, and kept poking around in the grass looking for something to eat. This made us believe he was quite docile. Haha! Ten seconds later when we picked him up off the ground we all had a writhing, mouth-open snake lunging at our faces! This is a lifer for me and I couldn't have asked for a more impressive animal. I was fairly nervous in the video for some reason and as you can see it doesn't go quite as easily as I'd hoped. The snake was released after this video was made and sounded like an elephant as it took off through the understory!

Enjoy the video!

Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDlZfOmab08

Nice video. Too bad you have not gotten over your fear of snakes. Did you ever get it in the bag, or did you just let it go from there?

Yeah I finally figured out how to bag her. The link is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I6Px-DQ6Is

That video along with several other rainforest species found in Peru and Costa Rica can be seen on my channel here: http://www.youtube.com/user/ambitiouscitizen

Glad you enjoyed the video. It's one of the most impressive animals I've worked with.

Terry

Nice snake! Had a few years back, I just would like to say that if you had not tramatized him, just out of your own fear of getting bit, I understand! but they are easy to handle and that could have gone much better, Remember this terry, SLOW movements, no pinning, ever for any reason, gain respect by moving slow and showing NO FEAR, this means expect to be bitten and you won't get bitten, seems riskey but I have handled lots of big C.Couperi and never been bitten, I have also used these tactics to sucsessfully breed and raise E.Coachwhips and Scarlet kingsnakes, which are hands down the most timid neonates in the snake world, but every snake has the potential to be tame, It's all how you approach them, ...that Big YT had no respect for you my friend! just please try to work on that terry, for the sake of the next monster snake you collect. no offence, cool video, JB

Good comments. I have had the same experience with wild eastern and Texas Indigos (many years ago). Like you I have never been bitten. I have found that once you get them off the ground and support their weight they, for the most part, do not want to bite what is supporting them. Another trick I learned is to hold the snake by the back half and put the head end back between my legs and then draw it slowly back while using my free hand to control the body until I can reach the neck/head and then control it. Usually within minutes they are completely docile.

You are absolutely correct to NEVER try to pin one of these magnificent animals. That is a sure way to traumatize or severely injure it.

ECT

Nice job. It does pay to be a little wary with a Dry that size. I had an 8 foot Texas Dry that would grab full grown rats mid body and actually bit with enough pressure to pop an eye out of the rat. That coupled with fixed teeth, they can provide a very painful bite, especially it they are able to grab a hunk of meat. LOL

ECT

I'll give you this Terry, I would be on gaurd with that big one too! I have heard some horror stories from breeders, and have only been bitten a couple times by big ones in the wild, but not a full on bite. That thing looks to have had a 4" long head. While i agree almost all our N.A. drys go for the bluff with minimal bite, I wouldn't bet the farm on getting out of that without one, but I'd still go for it! Amazing beast!
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Todd Hughes

Thanks for the comments guys. And you're right, when we first caught the snake he was fairly placid although when he realized we weren't letting him get back to hunting he latched onto my arm pretty good.

The biggest problem with this one was it trying to consume everything it bit. Twice we had to carefully retrieve snake bags out of its mouth and another time it bit my friend's shirt and kept chewing, taking it further and further into its mouth. I would have loved to see it eat an actual animal.

To be honest I was just nervous, and it shows in the video. My girlfriend was filming, tourists kept approaching off camera. It was hot, we were being eaten by chiggers. The day before I handled her without a problem. What a difference your state of emotion can make huh?

Thanks for the advice and comments. I'm glad you liked the video!

Terry

What a nice animal! He really wasn't to badly tempered considering he'd never been handled. I would say you handled him with respect, not fear. No reason to get bit to prove you're not afraid of snakes! I hope you post more, fun to see animals at home.... not in a cage. Dan