Handling Snakes for the Nervous Folk

I was watching my daughter to today with one of her friends. She wanted to show Holly her pet snake but she is fearful of getting them out of the cage - one bit her once when she put her hand in and she will not repeat doing it. Once the snake is outside she handles it with confidence and no fear, she just doesn't like getting it out of the cage.

I got the two small pythons out for her but her friend was very frightened of them and reacted with fear, backing off quickly with a minor squeal. She would not even go near them. So we just handled the snakes gently and showed her they were quite tame, not agitated nor prone to striking, in fact not scary at all.

Gradually my daughter, Briana, encourage Holly to touch the snake. She said no at first but with a bit of persuasion she finally said OK, but only near the tail. She touched the snake and recoiled, like some people do (many do not). But she did come back and gradually she began to touch it more. It took a few attempts from the first time but she was slowly beginning to gather her courage.

Then Bri said to her, "How about put your hands under the middle, while I hold the rest?"

Reluctantly Holly put both hands out and supported the middle of the snake. She was still quite scared but the head was nowhere near her and she could just hold her hands underneath the snake and get a feel for its weight and the feel of its body (sensual beasts really). This was quite comforting to her, holding but not really holding and hence not having the full responsibility of handling the snake.

Gradually Holly became more confident and held a bit more and then a bit more. After about 10-15 minutes I noticed that Holly had the whole snake. I was quite impressed. I didn't really notice the transition from support - to holding more - to holding fully but she obviously gained more confidence as time went by. I later asked Bri what she did and she told me she just took her hands away, first the tail end, and then the head end, while Holly continued holding the middle.

Holly had gone from someone who had a fear and would not touch the snake, who said it was slimy and felt funny, to someone who was handling it and letting it move about her. And enjoying the experience. She was looking at it carefully and just letting it wander about, while managing to move it around her arms and hands.

I think I was just as impressed by the way my daughter introduced it to her and gradually gave her the confidence and then the responsibility. By letting her get used to it gradually and doing everything in a slow and gentle manner, Holly was able to overcome her fears and begin to trust the snake and her ability to handle it.

It took quite a while for this whole process but I think there is a lesson there for anyone who handles snakes and introduces them to new people and unfamiliar surroundings.

Taking it slowly and gently, letting both the snake and the new person become comfortable with each other so both are then at ease. Holly was confident the snake was not going to hurt her and the snake was not agitated or fearful but rather relaxed and easy going.

I didn't really give this much thought at the time, I was just an observer. It was only after reflection that I realized now how well my daughter had handled this. Much of it revolved around trust. Trust by Holly, the reptile and my daughter but it was a salient lesson for me and I think other reptile owners as well.