Quote Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh View Post
I will be more then happy to hold that very snake myself... let it wrap my neck completely, scare the crap out of it and make it totally constrict. Then I can show them how easy it is to unwrap BY MYSELF. Then I will do it again, and this time let another adult unwrap it without help from me. Then they can see how it is even 10 times easier for someone else to remove! Then I will do it a third time... and both I and another adult will pull it off at the same time. Then they can see that that snake would be off my neck in seconds without any struggle.

Seriously, who can we call on this?
Never underestimate the incompetence of people who are panicking. I understand the people who eventually got the snake off of him had a hard time doing so, as it was still tightly wound.
There IS A REASON safe handling procedures apply to snakes over 8 feet long, and not over 10 feet, or some other number. This snake was on the low end of that scale, at only a bit over 9 feet, and still managed to overcome a man. Obviously not a knowledgeable or experienced man, but still a fully grown adult.

The fact that you can get a large snake off of your neck does not mean that this man could--he obviously didn't know where to start. I also think I've seen that boa, when it was for sale in the pet store.

I think your demonstration would only cause pain to the grieving family and friends of this man. It's what could have been done...but wasn't, because no one knew what to do.

The Nebraska Herp Society is planning to hold a seminar on safe handling practices for large reptiles. Could be a big event if they can get word out properly.