Many times bites from snakes are due to owner negligence. Carelessness can mean getting bit and many experienced snake owners say if you haven’t been bitten yet it’s coming. Due to most keeping snakes that are not poisonous or “hot” snakes, this is just about that group.
A bite can hurt, it’ll bleed and the speed at which a snake can strike will surprise many people. It is not normally fatal unless the carelessness goes further that is, handling or feeding a large constrictor without backup. It’s not the bite, it’s the immediate instinct of the snake to wrap around and constrict following a bite.
The absolute without exception rule is NEVER handling a snake after handling prey. This means rabbits, mice, rats, gerbils etc. Wash and sanitize hands after handling “food” this one thing prevents many bites. The snake is a predator they smell food, they see movement they strike. They may not focus on the movement is your hand, not a rat – if it smells like a rat and moves it’s a rat. ALWAYS wash your hands after handling snake food’ and before handling the snake.
The other “danger zone” is before a snake sheds. The skin is lighter colored; the eyes are more bluish colored than normal. A snake ready to shed sees even less than normal and may be grumpy to boot. Give him a few days to shed and it greatly reduces the chances of getting bitten.
Another possibility is with young snakes. Baby snakes know by instinct they’re at risk of being food themselves. Until they are tamed down they may be prone to strike and release at anything they perceive as a life threat, just as any animal will do for self preservation. Snakes have this instinct closer to the surface than many animals we keep as pets. Some experience with handling makes a difference.
Any snake that isn’t feeling well, like any other animal, can be grumpy and deserves some extra peace.
That wild’ nature is what many people like about snakes and with the admiration we must also respect it. The snake doesn’t wake up and say “gosh I think I’ll bite a hand today!” That may be the result of handler errors.
Some types of snakes are said to be more difficult and temperamental than others. Reticulated pythons seem to get this label as well as some Burmese. Ball pythons and corn snakes are said to be the calmest and good beginner snakes and they normally are! However, if you handle a pinky mouse then reach suddenly for a baby corn snake the size of a pinky finger you cannot be surprised when you get bitten. Granted a snake this size is more like getting rubbed with sandpaper the teeth aren’t very big. Having a 14 foot python latch on is quite another matter!
When handling these large snakes always do so with brain fully engaged. The snakes get blamed as do other handlers when fatal attacks happen, such as the one when a man bought a live chicken for his 18′ python that was fed chickenand walked into the house after handling the chicken to put a bag of groceries away. Neighbors found him, no live chicken around, after the snake bit then constricted. The errors here were multiple the snake was loose, without a private area. The food issue was a huge error. Not having a place to feed, because it was loose, was another.
These things apply for non-venomous snakes. There is really no reason for the average person to keep “hot” snakes. There are too many risks and in a pet situation that is greatly increased.
Snakes are awesome pets. Despite their reputation some can be quite “affectionate” in their own way. They don’t require daily feeding and if you leave for a week your pet snake will usually be just fine. Develop good handling habits and respect your snake for what he is a predator!
