How do we show people that snakes aren't what they are often portrayed to be?

[Evenstar]

"I always answered in a way that opened the door for her to ask more questions"

How was that accomplished?

For example, she once asked me, "What do you keep them in?" (meaning what kind of cages do I use). I told her I keep them in a rack system (then I explained what that was and what it looked like). She then asked if they had enough room. Instead of just answering yes, they're fine, I explained to her that BPs will often live their entire lives in a single termite mound in Africa. That led her to ask how they found food and I told her that they are primarily ambush preditors, but that they can actually "see" a rodent in "infrared" thanks to their heat pits which allow them to pick up on a rodent's heat signature. One thing leads to another and that one question, what do you keep them in, led to a 20min discussion on a snake's environment and how they find food and eat!

The point is, you don't want to innundate someone with too much information, but you DO want to give them enough so that they 1) learn and 2) feel invited to learn more.

I also flat-out told her that I understood her fears, but if she felt curious I loved to talk about my snakes so she was welcome to ask questions any time any where. We don't want to force information on anyone, but we do want to make sure people know we are open!

[Kensa]

I am lucky in that I was raised on a beef ranch and have had lots of different pets(cockatiels, cats, dogs, horses, ducks, chickens, etc). My uncle owned a scorpion at one point in time, but as far as I know my BP that I brought home was the first reptile in my family.

The first time my mother came to visit after I brought my BP home, she was genuinely interested, spent 30 minutes holding her, and was a bit sad I had fed two days prior, as she was very interested in watching the whole eating process.

My girlfriend's mother on the other hand is extremely afraid of snakes. When her parents came for a visit, we covered Kensa's cage with a light blanket as even the sight of one would send her mother into a fit. People react differently, and you just have to be respectful of them and their fears. I would love to try and help her overcome her fear, as Kensa is very important in my life, unfortunately I don't see it changing anytime soon.

In my opinion, you can't push your friends, you must be open to answer any questions they have, but forcing them to touch or hold them may only reaffirm their fears.

Unfortunately this is something all snake keepers will experience at some point in time I am sure. How we handle these situations may help or hurt our hobby in the future.

[carlson]

My neighbors wife is terrified of snakes, one of our friends loves them tho so both girls came over to see the snakes a month ago, the one lady held everyone looked at them all and was upset over how my four new rescues were being taken care off before I got them. The lady scared of them looked at them made some comments on how she can see how the rescues aren't healthy compaire to the ones I've had for ages, she got up the nerve to hold my normal male. Then they wanted to see the carpet I took her out for them and the lady scared of snakes held out her arms and had big girl crawl onto her she was scared but once she noticed even a seven foot snake isn't gonna mistake her for a snack she got excited and fell in love lol

[Kaorte]

My upstairs neighbor is TERRIFIED of snakes. She knows its irrational, but she just can't even look at them. I told her I do have snakes, and if she ever wants to learn about them or overcome her fears, she knows where to go! I respect her fears and I never bring out my snakes in front of her or even talk about them unless she brings them up.

Some people will just never get over the fear. I do my best to respect their fears and leave the snakes out of conversation. This is how I deal with most of my family. Occasionally people will ask questions about them, and I do something similar to what Evenstar does, give an informative answer that might generate further conversation. I once talked to my grandmothers friends for a good 20 minutes about ball pythons. They were impressed I knew so much!

This summer I had a snake out in front of my house to take some pictures and some kids biked by and were super interested in the snakes. I talked about them for a little while, then they became curious enough to touch the snake, and one girl even held one of them. I'm sure that these kids have never had this kind of contact with a snake before. I'm glad I could give them a positive experience that may spark their own love for reptiles.

Adults are a whole different story. My mother still hates my snakes. That's cool. I never bring them up unless she does. Maybe one day she will come around

[Grave334]

I believe that having knowledge, and giving them information peaks their curiosity, even if they are afraid (like my GF was) I did a lot of research found out a lot of stuff and shared my knowledge. At first she didn't understand why I wanted one and was hesitant at the idea, but I explained everything I found out, where they sleep, the temperature, different morphs, etc. She got interested, began asking her own questions, and when I finally got him she wanted to touch him. Of course she was still scared but eventually she began to get more comfortable. Plus I believe seeing how comfortable I was around him even though I never owned a snake on my own, made her feel comfortable enough to see if he wasn't attacking me he wont attack her. I also told her that they're more skiddish and nervous snakes so they don't attack often they mostly roll up into a ball.

She finds him adorable now and loves to hold him whenever I take him out, I believe if you can peak someones curiosity and have them ask you questions you've already slightly opened a door.

[LLLReptile]

Patience, a good, calm snake, and don't push it. I deal with a LOT of skittish moms and dads, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends, etc that come in to the stores (or in my personal life) that end up falling in love with them.

It's easier when there's no pressure on them, and there's someone around who does love the snakes or at the very least isn't overly scared of them. Seeing someone else calmly learning to embrace them encourages people to try it themselves. One of my (guy) friends was raised up TERRIFIED of snakes. He couldn't even hear me talking about them without kind of freaking out. One of his roommates is an old old friend of his, and fell in love with one of my baby retics. He heard about his friend holding the snake and playing with it while he wasn't around, and started coming around - asking me questions here and there, mentioning pics he saw me post from work, even going so far as to asking if I'd brought one over he could check out and maybe hold.

Not everyone comes around, but by removing pressure from people, there's no reason for them not to at the very least be able to tolerate them. I've had moms come in that would scream at the sight of the snakes see their children petting them, and eventually hold the snakes themselves. My favorites are when the family member most scared of snakes initially becomes the one in love with them and breeding them!

It can also help to introduce reptiles that aren't snakes but maybe a little bit similar. Sometimes people are more comfortable starting with my blue tongues (ironically, the friend I mentioned earlier can't handle the blue tongue [which he calls a "basilisk monster"], but is doing alright with snakes) than with snakes, or my leopard geckos, and eventually when they realize that they can handle one of those, maybe a snake wouldn't be too bad after all.

The biggest thing that I've seen personally is that removing any pressure to like, hold, or touch the snakes is what helps most. I've seen parents force their kids to hold or pet the reptiles and the kids end up crying, screaming, and running out - wives refuse to come in to the store again, boyfriends get flustered and start yelling and leave, it just doesn't end pretty. Let people get their own curiosity up, slowly expose them to the reptiles in a way that they don't feel like they have to react, and try to have at least the first few interactions end positively. Make em laugh if you can. If you're a girl, crack a ball joke - if you feel comfortable, anyway.

Baby steps! Eventually, we'll get the world to love snakes.

-Jen

[carlson]

Put them in a fur hoodie so they are soft and fluffy and say wanna see my ferret?

[coolballsdave]

My wife is terrified of snakes, I keep mine in a climate controlled shed in the back yard. Her fear is never going to be cured, she doesn't want to be cured. I don't push the issue, I respect her fear and we don't have problems. I share this because it is important to understand some people are very sensitive!

I do snake shows all the time at the local elementary school. If you have no fear and are super excited as you tell them how cool and harmless they are, you'll be surprised at the numbers of people who will get excited about them. I think the best way to help skeptical naive people to open their minds is for them to see others get excited about them. Be excited!

[Valentine Pirate]

Being excited about your hobby or pets is something that is usually infectious to others. As Jen mentioned, it makes an enormous difference when you take the pressure away. Not everyone is going to come around, and simply respecting their boundries whether its "I don't want to hold it" or "I don't want to hear about the reptiles" puts them in control. Nobody likes being forced to do anything, so when it is simply an option or they see the positive side of keeping reptiles and the interesting facts about them it leaves room for their personal curiosity to come around.

Many of my co workers have written me off as that crazy snake lady (and now roach lady) but it's affectionate, and most of them know that if they hear/see/read anything reptile related I can bring up a great conversation. It's been enough to convince one of them to wait on my first clutch in order to get a baby ball eventually Long wait, but it makes me smile

[Poseidon]

Lots of good advice! I'll try to actively incorporate all of it into my reptile related life.

The child I babysit asked what the "birdcage" was in my room. It was an aquarium wrapped in blankets, LOL. I pulled out my snake for her, and she seems to really enjoy her. She didn't want to hold her the first time, but the second time, I saw that hand supporting that tail! So we held her together. I am surprised her mother hasn't mentioned it. I don't know how snake friendly she is.

And my mother has nicknamed my new snake already! I've got a friend that is (was??) terrified of snakes signed up to hold her after she's settled into her home. I'm feeling good!

My sister gave me a horrified look when I said that the new snake is about 3 feet. Hopefully she'll see her and she that is huge and terrifying, and snake scaredness will be chipped away a little.