(I'm assuming for the moment that you only do this occasionally and you don't handle venomous snakes on a regular basis.)



Well, if you can spend a few bucks, my first suggestion would be to get TWO real snake hooks. If you can help it, you shouldn't have ANY part of a rattlesnake's body within roughly one body length of ANY part of your body. I don't necessarily always do this myself, but I handle 4-5 foot rattlesnakes on a regular basis, and I have years of experience in holding them in such a way that the hooks are blocking them from striking towards me.I don't currently have any that are too heavy to handle with hooks alone, but you shouldn't be tailing a rattlesnake without a fair amount of experience. I hate to say it, if handling them is just an occasional thing, I'd rather see you kill the snake than yake a chance on tailing it. (You're relatively unlikely to die from a rattlesnake bite in the U.S., but you might when you see the hospital bill.)



Then next thing would be a good, solid wood crate. I put an eye hook in the lid of mine, where I can close the lid using a hook, without getting near the box.



Third suggestion, if at all possible, but least likely to BE possible, find someone locally who can give you a little one-on-one instruction in handling. Many keepers will be happy to do this for free, though they might ask to do it at YOUR house for liability reasons.



Next, you might even want to research your local laws. Here in Florida, relocating venomous without a Venomous Reptile License is illegal, and the license is not a simple thing to get.
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

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