Bigger prey items slow them down or can calm or make them more protective. I would say to not fear your animal and to stick to the rule of keeping you hand away from her face or hand from smelling like food. You must know how to read your ball python
When she does this it's cause she thinks I have food for her. And she will bite me! So I trick her with one hand and with the other I pick her up, then she goes in to crawl mode and not into defense or Im gonna bite you mode.