I was reading a thread about what commonly causes bites (which is usually "feeding response") and how people establish "patterns" so that they don't confuse the snake into thinking they're getting food when they're actually just being touched.
I got into the habit of putting some paper towels down in my girls' tanks to put the rat/mouse on when I feed them, since I have aspen bedding and I didn't want aspen to stick all over their dinner. Now, when I put the paper towels down (and ONLY when), my Ball comes scurrying out of her log hide and sits and waits on the paper towels, and my boa comes and sit dead still by the doors. :D