Quote:
Originally Posted by bjones6416
I agree, although I wouldn't relocate it myself. I'd probably hire "critter catchers" to do it for me, because I'd probably get me or the snake injured! My nephew has relocated a couple of rattlers, though. He lives in a county west of me and there are more wooded areas and more snakes.
I had a friend a few years ago who lived near the base of Stone Mountain. He had lots of rock formations in his yard, and much to his discomfort, lots of copperheads in those rocks. He had to be pretty vigilant when his kids were young... |
A fellow I met had a copperhead for a pet. He admitted to occasionally handling it without gloves, but I wouldn't recommend it -- especially for one encountered in the wild for the first time. I also read once where some zoo personnel said that one in a hundred rattlesnakes had a disposition such that they would make good pets. I guess the trick is to find that one, knowing that if Jake ever decides to bite his owner, he wasn't the one.
Grace Olive Wiley (1883–1948) was an American herpetologist who had a remarkable way with snakes. Her favorites were her rattlesnakes and cobras. It was said she could walk among them unmolested, but if anyone else entered the room, the rattlers would rattle and the cobras would assume their customary defense posture. She regularly handled them without gloves or snake sticks. Unfortunately, she was also rather vain, and when asked to pose for a picture at age 64, she removed her glasses and picked up a newly acquired cobra. It was the last snake she ever handled.