I have never held fear in my heart for any reptile on their turf. I am a blessed man in my parents supported my budding passion for snakes and lizards by taking me to every possible DNR program on the native reptiles to my home area. My mom always tells this story:
When I was 7 years old or so, my Grandmother (who is deathly afraid of ANY snake) opted to move into a newly build housing division in the town we lived in. This division was created by removing a large wooded space on the SE corner of town (inside the city limits). My mom took the kids over to help unpack and since I was more than useless for the task at hand, I was sent outside to play in the back yard (fenced in). While out there, I found a new friend. I have very little recollection of the exact events due to age, but I do remember that this was the largest most beautiful specimen that I had ever encounted of the "Black Rat Snake" and wanted to share. I walked in the kitchen with a full grown snake (Probably female based on the size my mother describes) and say: "Look Gamee at what I found!!".
My mother tells me that my Grandmother could have beaten out any Basketball professions for a straight vertical jump. She went from the kitchen floor to ontop of the kitchen counters in one jump, haha. The next thing I remember the Snake was done being "friendly" and proceeded to inform me he'd like loose, by turning around and chomping onto my hand. Mom freaked, I was in awe of this snake "trying to eat me" and Gamee was about to faint, haha.
It was at that point that my parents doubled up my Education of Reptiles native to my area to keep me from picking up the wrong friend.
I have encounted Venomous in the wild. Both Copperhead and Water Moccasins. By respecting them and their space/territory, I've never had anyone with me, or my self, have a poor altercation with one of these creatures.
I am with Diane though; Spiders, Scorpions, and Centi/Millipedes set of my "NOPE THE NOPE NOPE" so hard. Probably why I am debating one as a desk pet. lol
Paul
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