Thanks everyone for the replies! I wanted to clarify that I do not free-handle any snakes purposely, and that I have a 48" snake tong and a 24" thick snake hook that I use to capture the snakes of interest that I find. The gloves are more of a secondary measure of security in those situations where perhaps a snake is halfway into a blackberry bush or is too small and fast to be quickly bagged, not to mention that on smaller snakes, especially the Texas Coral Snakes as thin as they are, the tongs are not the most gentle means of collection...

And as for the homeowners, I mostly herp in those heavily-wooded areas around the newer developments on the NW side of Houston. The last copperhead I caught was only 20yards from a street where several small children ride their bikes and play. I only explain what I'm doing when someone approaches me because most people here would rather kill a snake than see it moved...
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~Venom~

Hybrid Breeders Association

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