Anddenex Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 My second oldest son learned today that you don't pick up snakes you are unfamiliar with. In our backyard, we literally have hundreds of garter snakes, harmless, fun for young boys to pick up and play with, etc... However, today, my son notices a white and black striped snake, and thinks, "I am going to pick it up and give it a bath." Well, the California King snake didn't like his desire, and didn't want to be acted upon in such a manner by a naive little boy... so he bit him. Looks like we get to have a wonderful lesson tonight about snakes, and we have a wonderful object lesson, with a boy with two good sized holes in his hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apple_Acres Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 My second oldest son learned today that you don't pick up snakes you are unfamiliar with.In our backyard, we literally have hundreds of garter snakes, harmless, fun for young boys to pick up and play with, etc...However, today, my son notices a white and black striped snake, and thinks, "I am going to pick it up and give it a bath."Well, the California King snake didn't like his desire, and didn't want to be acted upon in such a manner by a naive little boy... so he bit him.Looks like we get to have a wonderful lesson tonight about snakes, and we have a wonderful object lesson, with a boy with two good sized holes in his hand. Speaking from personal experience working in the pet trade, California Kings are NOT child friendly what so ever. Every single one I've worked with except one has been ill tempered, especially a wild one. Sorry to hear about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 The serpent beguiled him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerome1232 Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 I have had too many encounters with diamond backs to take any snake lightly, even gopher snakes have scared the crap out of me on occasion(when they are in dry grass they can make a rattle sometimes by shaking their tail and rustling the grass) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 I really wish I had not read this. I hate snakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennarator Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 Awww....poor kiddo! Yeah, I know my son would do the same, given the chance, but we have no snakes where we are at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) Your son needs to spend more time with my sons. I'm sure in a week's time your son will be well versed on how to recognize and pick up a California King among others. And just as an FYI... there's no such thing as a naturally friendly snake. They're not social creatures. There are those that, through exposure to humans, will tolerate being handled, including King snakes. But it is not their instinctive behavior. Their instinctive behavior is to flee, go on defensive strike-mode, or go on a pre-emptive strike. So yeah, you can't just pick up any wild snake and not risk getting bit. Last year, my two sons lectured a neighborhood kid on how it is cruel to kill a snake that is doing nothing but sitting in the culvert to the pond. The said snake has been living in that culvert for a while and the neighborhood kid chopped it up with a shovel and was showing off about how he is so brave while holding 2 snake halves... my son went in the house, took his pet snake, showed it to the kid and showed him how it is much braver to be holding the snake while it is alive. And then, of course, he went on about how not to just pick up a snake without knowing what kind of snake it is. And how that snake he just killed is a banded water snake that is a non-venomous species which kinda looks like the venomous cottonmouth that you definitely do not want to pick up. Yes, they are fans of Bindi the Jungle Girl and her dad. And they like to say, "Preser-vay-tion through Edu-cay-tion." And that kid has been to our house a few more times wanting to hold our other 5 snakes. I think the education worked. Edited April 23, 2013 by anatess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarlJibbs Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 Maybe all he has learned that he needs to now know how to handle the California King Snake. Not necessarily stay away from them. You could have a Steve Irwin on your hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vort Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 Maybe all he has learned that he needs to now know how to handle the California King Snake. Not necessarily stay away from them. You could have a Steve Irwin on your hands.Considering how Steve Irwin met his demise, that might be better avoided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apple_Acres Posted April 23, 2013 Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 (edited) And just as an FYI... there's no such thing as a naturally friendly snake. They're not social creatures.Haha, I apologize, I meant that more of in the sense of "user friendly" as in they are a little harder to work with at first.Docile or passive I think are probably better words. Such as Ball Pythons and Rubber Boas. I've heard Rubber Boas have been used to work with people to help treat Ophidiophobia because they are so docile and relaxed.PS, I'm glad to hear that about your son! Unfortunately snakes get a bad rap, when really they are helping us keep down pest animal populations. Edited April 23, 2013 by Apple_Acres Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applepansy Posted April 24, 2013 Report Share Posted April 24, 2013 Aren't boys fun? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 24, 2013 Report Share Posted April 24, 2013 Aren't boys fun? LOLVery... Just wait until they get a bit older and Anddenex posts something like: Had to go to the ER to stitch up my son's arm after he fell out of a 50-foot pine... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talisyn Posted April 25, 2013 Report Share Posted April 25, 2013 Is your son ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anddenex Posted April 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2013 Yep. He is totally fine. I was actually really shocked when my wife said, "He didn't even cry." I think he was to shocked after being bitten that he didn't cry, just ran and told Mom. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anddenex Posted April 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2013 Very... Just wait until they get a bit older and Anddenex posts something like: Had to go to the ER to stitch up my son's arm after he fell out of a 50-foot pine...That kinda even hurts me just to hear about it. Ouch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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