Where have you taken your snakes?

[zina10]

The ones I currently own haven't "traveled"

However, I used to own a pair of Normals that went to quite a few places with me. They were incredible calm and curious. Never seemed stressed, never stopped eating, despite the "trips".
When handled at those "outings" they continued to move slow, calm and deliberate. They were also strangely UN-headshy. The only snakes I ever had who wouldn't jump or pull away if you touched or even held their head.
I often wish I had just kept them, they were really cool snakes.

I used to be part of a reptile club and we went to and also hosted a few educational reptile presentations. At one of them I was holding my big female Delilah. A lady walked up with her autistic daughter and asked if her daughter could "pet" the snake. I allowed it and her daughters face just lit up. She told me her daughter wasn't communicating (not talking) and didn't really show emotion often. We (Lady and I) were amazed when her daughter was so gentle and showed such care for a little 'ole Ball Python snake. She then held out her hands to hold Delilah. I have to admit I was a bit nervous about it. I knew Delilah would stay calm, but I wasn't sure if the girl could control her movements enough to hold a snake gently. However..I just couldn't refuse. I put Delilah on her arms and she continued to hold her very gently and thankfully Delilah just "hung out" without trying to get away. It was very touching. I KNOW...its just a snake and this sounds like one of those butterflies and rainbows stories. But for about 15 minutes that girl just cradled Delilah and looked at her like she just loved her. So gentle, too. The mom was blown away, too. She said the girl usually had a hard time holding still for long or staying focused on anything. Usually these kind of stories are about puppies or kittens or even horses. Not snakes...

I also took my Russian Ratsnakes with me as well. Until one of them managed to get out of the tub while I was driving...I remember trying to change the radio station (had eyes on the road) and something "touched" my hand. I look down and its Scarlett !!! Of course I grabbed her, knowing if she could get in or under something, god knows if I could get her out. On that road, there was nowhere to pull over, I was over a water way. I held her close to me and she proceeded to wrap around the headrest posts and my neck..LOL. Great. Of course she couldn't do harm, but dang if she didn't "hook" around everything and I couldn't untangle her while driving. Finally I reached a part of the road where you could pull over into a small parking lot. I remember peeling in there, breaking hard and finally having 2 hands to try to unwrap Scarlett from my neck, headrest, etc. Got her off eventually and stuffed back into her tub. When I looked up I saw I was not far behind a pickup truck with 3 guys sitting on the bed, staring at me. How embarrassing....LOL. So I peeled back out and went on to the wildlife park.

I also took my snakes to my daughter elementary school once. THAT was a blast. The kids had NO fear and were very funny and so willing to learn. The adults wouldn't even come close..haha.