Patience...it takes time for snakes to learn their world...what's to eat, what's gonna eat them, & where to hide when doing neither.
It also matters HOW you touch a snake: I never hold them behind the head to prevent a bite...that's like putting a choke-hold on your next-door neighbor &
then being surprised when they take a swing at you. Keep your hands low & slow...gently stay under the snake at first...don't hold tightly & avoid touching
their trigger points (neck & tail). Mid-body touch is a lot friendlier...like another snake might do. Snakes are more sensitive to touch than you might think,
even those with thick or keeled scales.