As Zincubus said. It's just like working with dogs who don't know you...dogs want (& need) to sniff you but you risk a bite (typically a very small %) by just offering
your hand, but another way to accomplish the same thing (without risk to your hand & that actually WORKS with MOST dogs) is to extend a tennis ball that is mounted
on a stick instead of your hand: they sniff the ball as an extension of you, & actually many of them also recognize the ball as a toy & want to play.Snakes aren't
going to play with your snake hook (or other item used) but the harmless touch &/or scent does distract them, re-assures them & establishes that you aren't prey. Make
sure your hook has no prey scent on it, btw.
The more you use the best senses of a snake (touch & scent, NOT vision!) to let them know what's going on, the fewer mistakes they'll make (the fewer bites you'll get).![]()