Where have you been bitten?

[Dianne]

I’ve continuously kept snakes since 1991, up to 42 at one time, so I’ve had lots of opportunities. Most have been defensive bites from neonates or juveniles, and lots of bites from one wild caught adult female Solomon Island ground boa. There have only been a few large adult bites...two were totally my fault, the other was just the snake was done with handling.

Adult male Colombian redtail, about 7’...used feeding tubs at that time but this wasn’t a feeding day. I’d put him in a tub to clean his cage and instead of using the hook like I usually do, I reached in to pick him up. He bit my hand and wrapped my arm. This is where I first put into practice the trick of pouring rubbing alcohol around the mouth, he spit me right out. No harm to him, I had a nice set of cresent shaped punctures on the top and bottom of my hand.

Adult female Burmese (keeping for a friend), 13’ and about a week after the boa bit me (evidently I was a slow learner)...I reached in to take her out of the cage to clean it. She was in shed and evidently asleep when I touched her. She grabbed the same hand as the boa had, no wrapping but she wasn’t letting me go either. Alcohol worked here, too. I bleed very well, this one was messy but no major damage because I wasn’t trying to pull away. Wrapped my hand with a towel and cleaned her cage anyway.

Adult female Colombian redtail, about 8’...I was trying to sell her as I was getting out of breeding and selling anything not specifically a pet. I’d learned to consistently use snake hooks now! It was near the end of the show and a guy was interested in her. I had taken her out several times for prospective buyers and she’d finally had enough. She grabbed my hand and really clamped on. I’d forgotten my rubbing alcohol but hand sanitizer worked. The guy’s girlfriend was saying “oh h*** no”...can’t say I blame her too much. lol I used my other half’s handkerchief to wrap my hand and paper towels to get my blood off the floor. That really freaked out the lizard vendor next to us. I felt bad for the poor guy...and I’m reasonably sure he will never keep large constrictors after that display. The prospective buyer didn’t purchase her, but I did end up selling her by the end of day...she really was a beautiful snake.