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tailing
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by JSHarrison on August 25, 2002
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I was wondering if anyone would be willing to give out some good advise on tailing north american pit vipers.I have seen people do this several times but have never done it myself.I have noticed that most hook the snake just behind the head or first third of the body and support the head below the tail(tail is raised above the leval of the head)as the snake is lifted.Is this important and why?Should tailing be done with a snake that has not been handled before?Should you tail a snake that is particularly defensive?At about what lenth is a snake "safe" to tail?I was wondering just how difficult tailing is if a snake can strike half to two thirds his body lenth and pit vipers can strike over there own bodies by holding the tail is'nt that well within the snakes ability to stike you?Is this practice advisible for jumpy and scared wild caught snakes as opposed to captive born snakes that have become more accustomed to humans.Sorry for the long question.I am new to keeping venomous snakes am trying to learn as much as I can.Any info advise or tips is very welcome.Thanks guys (and girls) for all the great advise.
J.S. Harrison
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RE: tailing
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by bitisatrox on August 25, 2002
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I only tail my bigger 3'plus snakes and only when they WILL NOT stay on a hook by them selfs.. the only reason they cant bite you is the hook keeps there head away from your hand. I do not suggest doing this with pitvipers without a lot of practice under your belt with less dangerous stuff. if you can watch sombody do this many times before trying this yourself, my closest call came from doing this on a snake that was just to small..
If you could I would say read "Venom 101" but sorry thats out of my control (I cant wait till its in print)...
sorry I cant tell you more of the specifics but it didnt sound right (or safe) in type..
please do be carefull this is a vary dangerous practice..
later,
Ty
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RE: tailing
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by Langaha on August 25, 2002
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Just to give you a small piece of advice on tailing. I live where copperheads are very common. I have captured, re-located, and tailed too many to count this year. My advice is, know everything about any venomous snake species you intend to handle, meaning reading as much literature as possible. You owe at least that much to you and the snake. I agree with the gentlemen above, in that watching someone else do it several times can help to get you ready. If you are going to handle a venomous snake closely like that, you MUST know exactly what you can and can't get away with. Unsureness can mean trouble. Another piece of advice, don't underestimate the little ones, such as a 15"-20" pit viper. They are extremely limber and agile, and will bite the hand that has it before you can blink. Don't wait until your bitten to realize the danger your putting yourself in, like too many of us probably do. Personally I don't recommend tailing, unless completely necessary. Using tongs, and hooks can give you just as good of a view of the animal without putting yourself in danger. I don't claim to be a professional, but this is my advice to you, use the safest equipment possible, and if you do tail, be careful and never under estimate the snake. Sorry for the long inquiry, but it's an easy subject to talk about. Good luck
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RE: tailing
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by wls967 on August 26, 2002
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i'm surprised no one has mentioned body language. it is very common for snakes of the same species to react very differently. i watch the snake's body language very, i mean "VERY" closely. i'm not sure how to describe this, but right now i have the most irritable C.h. attricaudatus i have ever encountered. it is almost impossible to keep him on a hook. he will even drop from 7 plus feet in the air. to move him, i have to tail him. here's what i do, while he is stretched out pointing away from me, i ease the hook under the forward third of his body. he takes this fairly well, then i reach down and touch his tail. if he doesn't react, i gently grasp the tail and lift it while i'm lifting his forward half with the hook (i always keep the tail higher, they can strike upwards too, but gravity is on you're side). he usually strikes back over his body instantly, in which case i do the "steve irwin splits" and snatch my hands out of the way as soon as i feel his tail jerk. this is long, and may not have even helped, but i always "watch" the head and "feel" what the tail is doing....never take you're eyes off the head if you are in contact with them.
wls
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RE: tailing
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by wls967 on August 26, 2002
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oh, i meant to say that i agree 100% with the other post. be wary of the little ones, i swear they can strike their body length and more. also, find someone experienced and watch them closely. ask a lot of questions. i am in the process of teaching someone new to venomous herps right now, and i try to tell him everything i'm doing, because some things i do aren't visible, they are things i'm looking at or feeling.
good luck, and be careful,
wls
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RE: tailing
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by wls967 on August 26, 2002
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sorry, but one last thing. a snake can strike, and hit you, while on the hook. the bottom, or "u" shaped part of the hook is below them to support the body. the top of a standard hook is open. they can, AND WILL, come back at you, right out of the hook. i have had this happen more times than i can count, that is why i say never take your eyes off of their head. the worst thing the tail can do is make you smell bad for a while.
wls
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RE: tailing
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by fizzbob7 on August 26, 2002
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my bigger rattlers dont seem comfortable on a hook simply because of their size and it seems that their body is either more relaxed and drapes around the hook, which helps hold it, or is just not as easily controlled as lighter bodied or arboreal species...they dont usually mind after a little coaxing and getting them just right but after the head is under some type of control, all of them, even the "evil" ones, seem easy to tail...even while they are still rattling i can just grab the tail a few inches above the rattle and support the front 1/5 of their body with the hook and to me it's easier to do them than the shorter and stouter bodied cottons or coppers....i havent had one strike as long as it feels unrestrained and has some type of freedom to move...if i go for their tails while on the ground they always seem to jerk it away....but on the hook they dont seem to mind....when they do come back up the hook to your arm you can either drop them or simply let them do it...i dont want to hurt them and as long as they aren't super aggressive then i have let them run up my arm like a tree and they usually turn away and snoop around somewhere else...that's a little unnerving but its better than busting their ribs because they fell from 6.5 ft.....i dont do it unless i have to...just like pinning...
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