Tip 1 - This might be boring, but by far, the #1 suggestion, is to LEAVE SNAKES ALONE. No snake could possibly attack an individual if unprovoked, and believe it or not, even venomous snakes such as cottonmouths or rattlers rarely strike. So back away, leave the snake alone, and that is the safest thing you can do.
Tip 2 - You should perform snake prevention methods on your house or property, which will lower the quantity of snakes there, and reduce snake experiences.
Tip 3 - Use specialty snake handling tools when picking up or transporting any venomous snakes, or any snake that you can not identify, or that is aggressive. I also transport snakes in a snake purse, or distinctive snake bag on a pole. Keeping a safe distance is still critical for pit vipers such as rattlesnakes, since they can detect your warmth and hit through the snake bag!
Tip 4 - Wear snake boots or snake waiters on your legs and feet when walking through snake country. In fact, as mentioned previously, the amount of times these boots have really helped stop venomous snake bites, particularly without provoking the snake, is pretty good.
Tip 5 - If you KNOW it is a non-venomous snake, you still need to wear gloves, work gloves or leather work gloves, or even thick welder's gloves, to protect you against bites when managing or holding snakes. Although a lot of snakes can not envenomate, they could still lead to injury, bacterial infection, and plenty of bleeding, because of the anticoagulant in snake saliva.
Tip 6 - If you're up against a Spitting Cobra in your backyard, which never happens here in the United States, wear glasses, because these snakes have a tendency to target the eyes.
Tip 7 - Purchase a snake trap. These traps trap the snake on a tacky glue pad, where it can not strike whatsoever. You may then safely transfer the snake.
Tip 8 - Experience matters a good deal when properly managing wildlife, and in the case of snakes, in correctly identifying the snake species.
Tip 9 - Learn your snake species, especially in your town! Education is a superb tool in assisting you to keep safe around snakes. Just do an online search for "snakes of Florida”, or to get a good, general all-around understanding of what snakes are dangerous, read my how to recognize a poisonous snake page.
Tip 10 - I have to say it again. Do not kill snakes. Do not shoot them, do not hit them with a shovel. I know you think that you feel you are going to be safer with no snakes around, so you intend to kill them. SO MANY instances of snake envenomation occur during accidents when trying to kill snakes - they're faster than you think, hard to kill, crazy when hurt, strike once they seem dead, etc. etc.. Just leave them alone, they leave, you’re safe.
Picking up snakes by the tail - You should avoid picking up a snake by the tail only. Most snakes lack the muscles to have the ability to curl up and bite your hands nonetheless, they could thrash and squirm enough to easily catch you on a different area of the body. Holding a snake by its tail elicits a panic reaction from the snake and will make it more likely to attack. If you will need to grab a snake, you can use the tail to control the snake, but equivalent support should be in the front of the body through the use of a snake hook or your hand. You should generally avoid picking up a snake at all unless it is to safely take it away from your premises. Most snake bites occur when people try to deal with a snake. Despite the fact that the vast majority of snakes are harmless, a bite still means puncture wounds, and puncture wounds are prone to bacteria. The best way of removing snakes is by means of a glue trap. By spraying the glue with cooking oil, the snake will have the ability to free itself without you having to manage it.
To the general public, a snake charmer just seems very absurd, but these people often are well-versed in the art of studying a snake's body language. Not only are they great at reading snakes, but a charmer will be working with the very same snakes over and over again. Exactly like any creature, a venomous snake may get used to a routine. When the danger has left the situation, the snake will not be as likely to get riled up each time it's taken out. Naturally, some snake charmers are just daredevils and will eventually suffer multiple bites because of bad practice habits. As with any profession, there are qualified snake charmers and there are individuals who should not be permitted to deal with the animals. Unfortunately, it's a rather unregulated enterprise.
