Anyone else here afraid of snakes???

[salt]

Heres a link to a bbc article that argues that fear of snakes is not innate.

[redshepherd]

Heres a link to a bbc article that argues that fear of snakes is not innate.

Hmm, it's a good point! But maybe it's the definition of innate. Maybe a different way of thinking about it, I think a specific fear that's consistently developed later in life within a single species should be considered innate. Like the fear is programmed, but just doesn't neurologically develop immediately upon birth, if that makes sense??

Like that baby bunnies don't have a fear of predators- they don't really have a fear of anything, but the prey behaviors always develop when they're a bit older, even if they've lived with a breeder in a hutch for their whole life. They develop an automatic response of fear of any unknown animals larger than them = predators, even if they've never encountered a predator before. We wouldn't say that prey behavior isn't innate in bunnies, just because they didn't express the behaviors yet as infants/babies.

I mean, still can't exactly compare bunnies to humans, but something to think about!

[PythonBabes]

Once my mom came in my room to talk to me about something and then wanted a hug. Karma had been curled around my arm for the 15 minutes that she had been talking but as soon as I went to sit Karma down my mom looked a little closer, jumped up, and then ran out of my room.

Also, my mom is really religious so she was very reluctant about letting me have a snake in the house. My dad purchased Karma and everything she ever needs, but I live with my mom so everything was up to her. I still think the only reason why I even got Karma is because a minister in our church owns one named Ruben and he's the friendliest thing ever.

[Ax01]

i guess im afraid of snakes w/ venom. other than that, i'm afraid of worms, slugs, snails, etc. i can't deal with slimy, boneless stuff.

Oh i love tarantulas! Hehehe

The only time I was afraid of spiders was when I decided to clean the basement wearing only shorts and a sports bra... Guess where a big hairy wolf spider ended up???

Funny story. I wanted my first pet tarantula when I was like 12 or so. My dad said no way no how. The same man who always MADE me try to get over my fear of snakes and fire. My mom was terrified of rodents, but dad vetoed her and let me have a wide variety of hamsters, gerbils, mice and even a chipmunk growing up. My dad was also a practical joker, he would often take a napkin and crumple it up like a ball with a tail and throw it at my mom yelling "watch out! It's a rat!"

Well, mom took me to go get my first rose hair, the first time it molted mom took the shed... and dad woke up with it on his face.

Payback is a *insert proper term for female dog*

The cleaver family we were not. But I wouldn't have traded them for the world

My momma especially. Apparently at some point before I was born my dad did something... and my mom retaliated with super glue and icy hot. Many arguments ended with her saying "remember. Just a dab will do you".

I didn't get it until I was older

you're parents are hilarious.

[Neal]

I've never been scared of snakes, and I've gotten people over their fear. Most of the reasoning behind them being scared is what I call lack of understanding.

[Meerna]

I've never been scared of snakes either, just cautious of the venomous sort. I actually helped a Petco worker of all people get over some of her fear of snakes, she even had me take a picture of her holding Circe to show her friends.

[redshepherd]

It's currently my goal to shoot some pretty photos of a (wild) rattlesnake.

I hike a lot, but I feel like everyone sees the rattlers except for me LOL.

[highqualityballz]

when i first got into snakes i wasnt too comfortable with them, but once you have them for awhile and start handling them the fear goes away. I personally am freaked out by snakes in the wild. Bps and boas are the only snake species im comfortable with.

[distaff]

Yes. I keep them, and like them, but I'm still afraid of them.

Chased garters as a kid - those are the only snakes I'm not afraid of. Coming across a snake unexpectedly always startles me, even if they are dead. I may have accidentally injured a Desert king that was sunning itself on a fish tub earlier this summer. Hope it was ok. Even my own will get my heart racing if they look like they are going to bite. I gently use a snake hook, I talk to them, and I keep the head facing away from me. If the corn is relaxed, I'm ok with him around my neck, but not if he is the least bit squirrly.

Would LOVE to have a big boa some day, but really don't know if I could handle it. Will probably get a Tarahumara locality instead, maybe next year.

Interesting thread topic.
Feels good to "come clean."

[Fraido]

Even my own will get my heart racing if they look like they are going to bite. I gently use a snake hook, I talk to them, and I keep the head facing away from me.

I have that issue, I'm not scared of snakes... but I am scared of being bit. They just have to look at me funny and I will immediately be cautious. I LOVE my bigger snakes, I don't like their bigger teeth. 😩

It's mostly just when it comes to taking them out of the tank, but I keep my hands away from in front of their heads at all times.