Quote Originally Posted by John1982 View Post
I think the operative word here is CAN. Reading snakes is never 100%, I don't care who you are and what you're experience is, and when it comes to hots you might not get a second chance. I've moved plenty of hots to keep them from being killed, I've done this taking no chance of being tagged by showing these animals the respect I think they deserve. I believe doing otherwise is just irresponsible and the handler is not the only one at risk here. What about the kid who sees someone free handling hots then tries to do the same? You can tell them "don't try this at home" as much as you like but as far as most kids go - monkey see, monkey do..
A little lesson from Steve Irwin... Never trust a hot... or a Croc..lol

Hots aren't like other snakes... Facing down a king cobra.. Now that is something I wish to only do with glass in the way.. it really does get your adrenaline flowing.

MY turning point with hots (deciding NOT to get one...) was not only starting a family, but have a Gaboon viper take a bite at me... THAT scared me..