Many people here have hit on it exactly, if you are scared and show it then they sence it and strike becasue they are scared also. once they see that you are comfortable and that you aern't a predator trying to eat them then they settle down. You also want to make sure that you don't hesitate when picking up your bp. When you do this you are basically imitating the movement of one of its meals, so when you are reaching in just reach in and pick him up DON'T HESITATE and once you have him you will be fine. My 4 year old little girl who lives with her mom was at my house this summer and of course she wanted nothing to do with them at first but after a few days she wouldn't leave me alone about wanting to hold one. She even got nipped by one of my bigger females becasue she was wiggling her finger at the opening of the hide. She said that they snake scratched her and did want to hold "Hannah Montana" ( she named this snake) for about an hour and then she was back at it "daddy can I hold Hanna Montana." I hope this helps.