More on How to Avoid a Python Strike

Video Transcript

"On behalf of Expert Village I'm Nicole and I'm here to tell you about ball pythons. It's important to remember before letting your children handle your snakes that your snake is going to be tolerant in such behaviors. Snakes like to be held where their whole body is supportive. They often wrap themselves around you like this one is doing to my arm here. She feels supported right there so she's very comfortable now snakes do not ever like to be picked up their tail. Don't pick them up by just one part of their body when you do pick them up pick them up with two hands and make sure they are fully supported. Children can hold them if they sit assuming if the snake has been tested and it's friendly enough for a small child. Now I just frightened her by moving my arms to fast and she came back to the coil position which is what she would be in if she bites. She already came back out of it cause she already knows that I'm not going to hurt here. But if they are startled that is something that I want to watch out for, that sudden coiling and the glands in the back of head right around this area here will swell. It will be an obvious swollen you'll be able to tell that the glands are swollen and she's ready to strike. Just be wary of snakes when they are in that position."