Reptile & Amphibian Forums

just got back from doing a quick night drive and found this little guy. he didnt give me any problems not even a rattle or a strike. this is my first time being able to catch and handle a helleri.

You will probably hear this from a bunch of us, so I might as well be the first one. It is not smart to take unnecessary chances with a venomous snake by picking it up. In case you have not heard that particular specie can give you a very nasty bite. I may be a little hypocritical about this because I have done the same thing in the past. Maybe years of seeing what can happen to people doing what you are doing has made me see the light. I would not want to hear about you becoming one of the statistics. Take care.

Indeed, taking unnecessary chances with a rattlesnake is beggin' for an ER visit...

You'd be shocked how easily many rattlesnakes can "slip" a fang outside their mouths and into a finger...C. o. helleri can give a nasty bite, and some populations have decidedly neurotoxic components in their venom making for a very "touch and go" experience.

There's really no need in 99% of circumstances to ever put your bare hands on a rattlesnake...Above and beyond the obvious physical risks to you (and the substantial medical costs in the event of an envenomation), pinning a snake stresses it out and many will thrash around wildly when restrained in this manner. It's quite easy for a snake to suffer a substantial spinal cord/neck injury while this is occurring....all because you wanted to get "cool pics" of you holding a rattlesnake....

Blatant (and unnecessary) silliness.

Do everyone a favor and use a hook next time.

-Kris