I've followed this guy on Fauna and on RedTailBoas.com for a while. Would I free-handle a hot? Not just no but H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICK NO.

That said, I do have to admit I'm impressed that he can settle some of these snakes down to the point where he can handle them. The process can take months and the methods used can be copied to help our non-venomous constrictors become more tolerant of handling as well.

But there's no way I would ever condone free-handling a viper.