Sad Night ):

[Megan Sandbox]

Yeah, I'll see about picking them up, I'd hate to leave a snake in the road 'cause I cant fit a shovel in my trunk lol

[umop_apisdn]

I find hooks do well in most cases, and I believe they are preferred to tongs by most people tasked with handling venomous snakes. The tongs are of concern because they can injure snakes, it is difficult to know exactly how much pressure you are applying, and no one wants to go cracking ribs on the snake you're trying to help. They don't work particularly well for tiny snakes or large snakes. I know how it feels moving snakes from the road, as I've done it for hundreds, if not a couple thousand snakes over the past several years. You almost always find them just as oncoming traffic appears, regardless of how little traffic the road might get. I still highly recommend a hook as opposed to tongs. I personally suggest the typical hook style - being the question-mark shaped hook as opposed to the "L" shaped stumpripper style. I find the stump ripper (L) style to be good for manipulating objects such as sheets of tin or wood, while the question mark style is better for handling the snakes themselves.

If you typically come across smaller snakes, I've found pet stores selling miniature telescoping hooks lately for about $9. They're flimsy and you've got to make sure the little plug on the tip stays secure so it doesn't fall apart, but it works for small to medium sized snakes. For adult cottonmouths, rattlesnakes, etc, you'll want a full-sized hook, probably with at least a 36 inch shaft so you can safely distance your hands from the snake.

People have also used other things like potato rakes, which you can easily find in the garden tool section of a home improvement store. File off the extra prongs until you are left with just the center prong, and you've got a sturdy hook. You might have to cut the handle to a length that suits you. Check out the Kingsnake classifieds (http://market.kingsnake.com/index.php?cat=69) and you can possibly find someone who makes hooks themselves for a cheap price. Better yet, it is easy to find homemade hooks of great quality at reptile shows at great prices. I bought one about 10 years ago for $15 and it's my favorite hook to this day.

You can also make your own hook fairly cheaply. The very first hook I made out of a paint roller (without the spongy paint roll) and a telescoping pole. As long as you don't try to lift something too large, it will also work. However, it will be a little flimsy.

Worst case scenario, you can try a stick. They're free and as long as you're gentle, you can achieve the same results!

[OctagonGecko729]

Thanks Mike, good information about your experiences with the hook vs clamp thing.

[Zerocoolxx]

Its sad.. I dont know if its to the "un-educated" or the media abused, that most reptiles get a bad rap. Hell looking for an apartment, i said "small caged animal" they say "oh like a hamster, sure thats fine".. "no more like a reptile" .. "OH then heck no, landlord thinks all reptiles are bad" ... and things like "when animals attack" from discovery channel make up stories to hype their show, most of the time its some lizard or snake that are crazy and toxic..blah blah blah. I hate to say it but we do still live in a world where the average population has about a 2nd grade understanding of reptile species. Hell i had a friend over the other day, she never held a reptile, so I went to give her my leo to hold, and she tweeked like she just couldnt do it, because she thought he was going to bite her and have infectious spit and what not.... sad.. but it did happen. Sorry to see these pictures, its very sad that people would go OUT OF THEIR WAY for this.. but cant get motived to work out, find jobs, or anything productive in general.. with their lives.