It could be that he was just trying to position himself to get a "better look" at the thing entering into his home. It could be that you startled him with an abrupt movement. Or anything in between.


If he happened to strike, the results would probably depend on WHY he struck. If you scared him, he would hit you and back off right away. Could be anything from bumping you with a closed mouth, to nailing you with his teeth, but not holding on at all. Such a bite might sting like a paper-cut at the worst, and might bleed a tiny bit.

If there's a feeding error involved and he thinks your hand is food, he may bite and hold on. That might hurt a bit more and/or bleed a bit more. Where the bite actually hits would have a lot to do with both. Some places are just more sensitive than others.

The BEST advice I can give is to condition yourself to expect it to happen. And imagine yourself getting bit and NOT jerking your hand away. It's that reflexive jerking-away that causes the worst injury...causing the teeth to tear through your skin and possibly causing the snake to lose teeth, leaving them embedded in you.

All that being said...I personally have never been bitten by either of my snakes and am only speaking from all I've read and what I've imagined. I do try to imagine it happening to me, though, and sort of mentally reherse my reaction to it, so I am not shocked should it ever occur.

(Bet you work expecting a full-legth article to answer, huh? )