Working With Venomous Reptiles

Disclaimer: I want to make it clear that the venomous herps that I work with reside at my wildlife center: The Wildlife Discovery Center. This facility is a department of the City of Lake Forest’s Parks & Recreation Department. It is ILLEGAL to keep venomous snakes in Illinois as a private individual.

I have been working with venomous reptiles professionally for the past 20 years. I’ve had many great mentors along the way and the one thing I have learned when working with dangerous animals is that “you never get a second chance to make a first mistake”. Although as humans we are far from perfect, when it comes to working with venomous reptiles, that is our primary goal. So far, the good Lord has protected me from any harm and I hope to enjoy many more years without a bite. There’s an old saying out there that goes something like this: “There are only two kind of people who keep venomous reptiles, those that have been bit and those that will be bitten.” By taking the proper precautions, I believe that this statement is one that I will never have to model myself after.

Here are the keys to working safely with venomous reptiles:

Live a clean lifestyle: I don’t smoke or drink (just the occasional glass of wine with dinner and when that happens, I don’t work with anything venomous until the next day). I am a firm believe in trying to keep fit and I exercise on a daily basis. Clean body, mind and spirit!….no, I’m not perfect but I feel my perfect track record is owed to these factors.
Having a clear mind: Before working with our venomous reptiles, I use various visualization techniques to go over every possible scenario when working with a tricky species (or a tricky technique). I clear my mind of everything so that I can just focus on the task at hand. If I am under a lot of stress, or, have a lot on my mind, then I just wait a day to work with the venomous collection.
Using proper techniques and the right kinds of tools: I don’t showboat with my animals; that’s irresponsible and it’s how many keepers in the private sector get bit (and killed). Although I do work very closely with many venomous reptile species (cobras, mambas, various vipers, rattlesnakes, etc.), I always assume that they are going to try something when I am working with them; this keeps me sharp. It’s usually when you let your guard down for a split second that something can go wrong. Many people can’t have this kind of mental discipline day in and day out but it is vital if you are going to safely work with them. My equipment such as hooks, tongs, hemostats, etc are simply extensions of my hands and arms. You just have to understand that the objective to working safely with hots is to keep your hands out of their mouth! A much tougher question one has to ask when considering working with venomous reptiles is “are you willing to die for the sake of keeping a venomous reptile”? That’s a difficult question to answer but it’s something one must keep in mind…every bite can be a lethal bite no matter what venomous reptile you are dealing with. I only use top quality equipment when “handling” my venomous reptiles. There is no skimping in this department and by using them properly, every encounter with a venomous herp should be fairly uneventful (but that is not always the case!).
Emergency Preparedness: Every keeper should have an emergency plan in place when working with venomous reptiles. Nearby hospitals should know that you keep venomous reptiles (in states that allow it…..Illinois doesn’t). Additionally, it is YOUR responsibility to keep your own supply of antivenin – this can be very expensive but it’s your responsibility. You should know the proper techniques of treating a bite while waiting for emergency support.
Minimizing Risk: every move that I do whether it’s changing a water bowl, feeding a fast moving mamba, taking some stuck eyecaps off a very aggressive puff adder, and other day to day tasks, I consider all of the various risks involved in those single actions. By minimizing risk, I am minimizing my chances of getting bit and I consider my job in working with venomous reptiles as safe as any occupation. That’s what a being a professional is all about: have a passion for what you do, take what you do seriously, take the time to learn the proper techniques and master them, always be willing to learn new things (no one is a true expert!), always be prepared (even worse case and remote scenarios), and be willing to share your knowledge with others. That’s what I strive for.

IMPORTANT: I do not advocate the keeping of venomous reptiles by the private sector UNLESS you meet the above criteria (and even then, I find myself not supporting it due to the many irresponsible acts of the private sector). Some of my closest friends are those that keep hots and I feel that they should be allowed to do so because they do take it very seriously and do it the right way. For that reason, a system should be in place to protect their rights and the rights of private individuals who are willing to responsibly keep venomous herps. In Illinois, you cannot legally keep venomous reptiles so I should also say that you should only keep them in states, counties and municipalities where it is legal…DON’T BREAK THE LAW!

So why do I enjoy working with venomous reptiles in my job? It’s NOT for the adrenaline rush, or, the “oh wow” factor. Anyone keeping venomous reptiles for those reasons, shouldn’t. Instead, here is why I enjoy working with them:

They are some of the most beautiful creatures on earth. Take a few minutes and look at the skin of a gaboon viper; it will leave you breathless! Many venomous herps are some of the most magnificently colored animals on earth!
Many venomous herps show incredibly interesting behavior that I love to watch and observe.
The challenge of keeping and breeding a species that few other facilities have done. There’s so much that we still don’t know and I enjoy adding to our base of knowledge.
Collaborating and networking with other professionals (and a handful of very dedicated hobbyist who I have the world of respect for): Some of my best friends are those that do the same thing as me; we are a close knit bunch and we openly provide information to one another. We are always there for each other in our time of need and I am thankful for their friendship.
The bottom line is that I find them absolutely fascinating; their advanced systems for dispatching prey, the complicated make up of venom, the knowledge that certain proteins in venom can help eradicate some of the worst known diseases on earth including cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and much more.