I honestly think more anti snake back lash would come from out of the state than in. There are people who don't like snakes, but in my experience far more people tend to be tolerant (including many who don't like them, don't care if others have them, just themselves don't want them).
But from some of the comments I saw on one article, he was still teaching and was well liked.
Oh nbc is the channel I saw the news report on. Well, I didn't see the actual news report, just the previews on the recorded program I was watching.