Taking your BP out in public

[bfirecat]

I'm actually finding this thread to be interesting.

But in the end, it really is up to the owner if they want to bring out their pets to the public.

[Archimedes]

I would not recommend it. I can't speak for anyone else's animals, but I have witnessed Magnus become tense and stressed in my best friend's hands, and that was within scent of both me and his tank, in a controlled and familiar environment. I'd never want to subject him to more discomfort than necessary. I bring him into the backyard on nice days and will get him out to show a friend if they ask to see or handle him, but if he gets stressed I put him back so he can hide. It's more difficult to do that in public places (not impossible, but anything temporary will still provide a level of anxiety and instability for such creatures of habit).

If it's a question of education, I feel that it would depend on the temperament of the animal and whether it's a regular occurrence. For example, if a zoo has an education collection, and the snake is accustomed to be taken out in public within sight and sound of such stimulation for short periods of time, that's one thing. But most of us don't have that luxury of educating the public in an environment where people are there to see the creatures in question. Bringing a snake with none of that type of conditioning into such loud and unpredictable surroundings is stressful for the snake, the public, and potentially the handler if things take a rough turn.

Just my .

[Vnuk1]

My son's preschool asked me to bring mine in for a visit, I'm not going to let the kids touch her just a visual visit. I was quite surprised that they asked, I gave them one of her sheds and they were all for me bringing her in. Educate while they're young..

Sent from my fingertips...

[MisterKyte]

If it's a question of education, I feel that it would depend on the temperament of the animal and whether it's a regular occurrence. For example, if a zoo has an education collection, and the snake is accustomed to be taken out in public within sight and sound of such stimulation for short periods of time, that's one thing. But most of us don't have that luxury of educating the public in an environment where people are there to see the creatures in question. Bringing a snake with none of that type of conditioning into such loud and unpredictable surroundings is stressful for the snake, the public, and potentially the handler if things take a rough turn.

Just my .

I might sound a lot more pretentious in my previous posts but I pretty much agree with that statement right there. I did take the time and luxury of acclimating a few of my BPs to the outside environment, and they have been none worse for wear since, and it's probably not something for every snake or every keeper but I feel if someone is particularly inclined to start the process, there's no reason why they shouldn't.
Personally, I find snakes in the barest sense of the term, trainable like most other animals it just takes more time and I think ultimately a really well socialized BP will more or less tolerate long periods handling.

[Raven01]

I'll be taking my mellowest BP out in public Monday.
It is a planned interaction, with an opaque PVC travel habitat to minimize stress on the snake.
This will aid the gf's daughter in her presentation on a constrictor and help to open young minds to the reality that most snakes really offer little threat to us despite whatever possible genetic programming we may have.
I'm no Steve Irwin but, I will try to help end ignorance in whatever little ways I can.

[Gerardo]

People keep mentioning how it stresses the snake but i thought all BPs have a different personality. Some might get stressed and shouldnt be taken out in public. Others might be perfectly fine. Like misterkyte said, if the snake doesnt ball up or tries to run away and it doesnt stop eating then that would indicate the snake is doing just fine. You have to know your snake. Out of my small collection i have only and would only take out my big normal male out in public. So i think it all depends on the individual snake.

[FireStorm]

We rarely take snakes out in public, never for our breeders, but occasionally we have taken some subadults and backup males to educational presentations at local schools. I think if you really want to show off your snakes and educate people, that is one of the best ways. One word of caution, though. Check your state laws. I can only speak for FL laws, but in FL you need a permit for public exhibition of reptiles (it's the same one that allows us to sell them, so we have it anyway). As it was explained to me, if you have your reptile out in public in FL and you don't have the permit, you can be penalized by F&W...of course you'd have to run into an officer or have someone call and complain but I wouldn't put it outside the realm of possibility since F&W has occasionally gone out of it's way to make examples out of people over the permits.

[Archimedes]

I'll be taking my mellowest BP out in public Monday.
It is a planned interaction, with an opaque PVC travel habitat to minimize stress on the snake.
This will aid the gf's daughter in her presentation on a constrictor and help to open young minds to the reality that most snakes really offer little threat to us despite whatever possible genetic programming we may have.
I'm no Steve Irwin but, I will try to help end ignorance in whatever little ways I can.

This is an example of a well-planned, well-executed excursion. Planned education opportunities are one thing, walking around city streets with a python around your neck is another.

[obsidianembrace]

I hesitate taking my animals out in public because I'm wary of diseases. I would never take a puppy out until he'd been vaccinated and wouldn't take my reptiles around other reptiles because they have no protection at all.

Everyone spends months and a lot of effort quarantining their new animals to protect their current collection, why would you then take one out around who knows what illnesses?

You can't guarantee the health practices of other owners around you.

[towelie4365]

Personally, I wouldn't want to simply because of how others may react. They have an irrational fear. If they don't see the snake, and its suddenly in their face, I can't imagine that would go over well... Even if I have several people over, I will bring people who want to see the snakes to the room, I wont bring the snakes out to everyone just in case someone isn't interested.

If I was deathly afraid of something, I wouldn't want to stumble upon one randomly out in public.