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proper hanling technique
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by snakeguy101 on December 26, 2006
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I am familiar with the correct handling techniques when dealing with a caged snake but what do you do while you are catching the snake, from what I've seen, many people tail them, I don't think i want to try that though, thanks for your input.
Chris Hartmann
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RE: proper hanling technique
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by Cro on December 26, 2006
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Chris, the correct handling technique to use is going to be different with each venomous snake you capture.
There are many variables that come into play.
Some snakes ride a hook well, and others are almost impossible to capture with a snake hook. In some cases tongs can be used, say to capture a cottonmouth that will excape into the water. If a snake has been basking and is warm, it will be a lot more active than a snake that has just come out from under cover after the chill of the night. It is a mistake to say that "this is the way to capture rattlesnakes" or "this is the way to capture coral snakes" as each situation is different. And the only way you can learn to read the situation is by time in the field. Going along with an experienced field herper is very benificial. You mentioned "tailing" which can be a useful technique in some situations involving large pit vipers, but it is not a technique for all situations. Chris, it is mostly practace and time in the field. With that, you will quickly find out what works best for YOU ! Not everyone will be able to learn to skillfully use a snake hook, or other collecting gear. Try as many different techniques as you can, hopefully with supervision of a mentor, and you will be going in the right direction.
Hope this helps.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: proper hanling technique
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by thedude on December 26, 2006
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It all depends on what species of snake it is and if your are willing to get bit by it. I prefer to gently restrain non-hots manually without tools (I get bit a lot doing this, but I think thats the fun part). With hots I use tools and tail animals only when necessary (ex. when they are escaping down holes). To really examine wild hots, use tubes. I find that they really calm down in the tubes and you don't have to worry about slippery sweaty fingers while restraining their head.
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RE: proper hanling technique
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by Pug on December 26, 2006
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Your comment about if the snake is going down a hole
struck a responsive chord. A very experienced herper of my acquaintance snagged an EDB that was going down a hole, and was disappointed to find that the snake turned around . . . and tagged him. I would keep that possibility in mind.
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RE: proper hanling technique
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by Cro on December 26, 2006
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Don makes a very good point about Diamond-Backed Rattlesnakes. Many of them turn almost immediatly after entering a hole so that they can face the danger that they are excaping from.
Chris, one thing that I have noticed is that a lot of new venomous snake collectors / keepers are not very proficient using snake hooks. I would suggest that you get in the habit of using a snake hook when working with non-venomous snakes, as this will help you develope the skill and fluidity that you need to master. Try something like putting a ratsnake into a snake bag using just your hook. Then try holding the hook across the bag with your foot as you untie the knot in the bag without letting your hands get into striking distance, then use the hook to lift a corner of the bag and gently dump the ratsnake out on the ground. It is easier said than done, but it will help you learn good technique. Also, there will be times when you do not have a snake hook handy, so practace again with improvised things like a stick. Also, practace using two snake hooks at a time, one in each hand, and transferring that poor old ratsnake or king snake from hook to hook without dropping him. Great training for arboreal snakes or large heavy bodied snakes that often require two hooks to work safely.
Note though that I am not saying that a ratsnake is a good training snake for venomous keeping. To learn to work with venomous snakes, you have to work with venomous snakes. I am just saying that using hooks on non-venomous snakes will help you develope your motor skills in using hooks.
Chris, sometimes you will find a snake on the road, and will not be able to capture it right off because of cars and traffic. In a case like that, your job will be to get the snake off the road to a hopefully open area where it can be captured. The reverse happens also, where you will want to keep a snake on an empty road to prevent it being lost in brush on the roadside. Both take practace and learning to read the current situation.
Think of it like the game of tennis that you teach and play. Each game you play is different. Each opponent is different. Some are aggressive, some are docile, some are unpredictable, and some should not be playing tennis at all, LOL ! And you have to adapt your game to deal with each. Same thing in working with venomous snakes.
You can catch any kind of venomous snake in the world with just a hook and knowledge, and never have to tail the snake, unless you choose to. I have caught hundreds and hundreds of venomous snakes that way. But there have been times when I used that technique on a particular snake because it was easier to capture and steer into a bag that way.
Hope this helps.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: proper hanling technique
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by thedude on December 27, 2006
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Good points! I should have elaborated that the holes where I tail them are no larger in diameter than their bodies and that I place my hook under their bodies as I gently pull. No EDBs or tortoise burrows up where I live - but I will keep that in mind if I get a chance to go further into Dixie.
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RE: proper hanling technique
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by snakeguy101 on December 27, 2006
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I use the tailing method to capture water snakes and the hook method to snag larger rat snakes and on occasion an indigo snake. thank you for your responses
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RE: proper hanling technique
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by snakeguy101 on December 27, 2006
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sorry i forgot to mention that the indigos are at the museum that I help out at so it is legal, the staff is not well prepared for the larger snakes so I help out there when i can
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