why would you give your snake a tickle? i think that piss me off too. just pick em up. and your not going to hurt her, they bite rats everytime they eat, what makes you think its going to hurt her even IF she bites you, which if you don't piss her off by poking her most likly isn't going to happen.
if you really want i can post a video of me taking out my pinstripe, which i know if a poke her it pisses her off. but if i just take her out shes fine.