Snake City watchers? Settle an argument?

[Mmrseed]

My son and I watch a show called Snake City which centers around a guy in South Africa going around catching mambas and cobras that wander into people's yards and houses. Although neither I nor my son have EVER handled a hot and neither of us know what we're talking about we've decided to argue regardless about one habit of the guy who catches the venomous snakes. When he catches the snake he puts it in a bag in the weirdest (I contend most dangerous way) by putting his free hand in the bag, transferring control of the snake's head from the one hand to the other that is now in the bag and then pulling the bag around the snake. I'm seriously curious about what you guys think. Isn't it dangerous enough to transfer the dangerous end from one hand to another, let alone to a hand that is less effective because it's in a bag and you lose sight of what you're doing?

[Minkness]

I have seen one episode of that show and hinestly...hate it. He sensationaizes the danger and really amps the fear factor. While mildly educational, it's all stupid and sends the wrong message.

On your question regarsing the hand in the bag, I agree with you 100%, though I have never really handled hots.

Flame me if you must..but I miss Steve Irwin ;-;

[treaux]

I've seen that method a few times on various animal shows. The explanation is that you need to have control of the head at all times. Transferring the head from one hand to the other is not as dangerous as letting go of it while it's aimed at you and the rest of the snake is coiled in the bag.

I'm definitely not an expert, just repeating what I've heard.

[SSSSnakes]

That method is an acceptable method of getting a snake that you are holding into a bag. It is much more dangerous getting a snake into a bag without control of the head. There are many acceptable ways of getting a snake into a bag. But when dealing with venomous snakes, you are always taking a risk. I have never seen the show, but I do agree that most videos and shows sensationalizes the danger.

[SSSSnakes]

Never having seen the show before, I was able to see a few YouTube videos of the show. I was actually impressed with the techniques and the equipment the guy uses. Capturing wild venomous snakes is always dangerous, but he uses some of the most safest methods. Myself, with 35 years of venomous snake handling, I give this guy a thumbs up, with what I have seen, in the few video clips I watched. I would rate his safe handling of venomous snakes way above Steve Erwin. Steve was a great educator, but a dangerous venomous snake handler. He never used any snake handling equipment, not even a common snake hook.

[prairiepanda]

I've never handled hots, but that method sounds perfectly good to me. I know I certainly wouldn't want to let go of the head before it's securely in the bag! Can anyone elaborate on why they think this is a particularly dangerous method? I mean, obviously handling hots in any way is dangerous, but compared to other methods I've seen this one seems pretty solid to me.

[reptiledude987]

The only issue I could see with this would be once the snakes head is in the bag you would need to be holding the bag with your other hand and many venomous snakes are quite capable of biting and envenomating through a bag. Granted Im not a hot keeper myself but this is the only possible safety issue I can think of with this technique.

[Mmrseed]

Again I've never handled hots but I've never seen this method before. He goes to great lengths to stress that when he places the animal in the bag it is the most dangerous part....it just seems that transferring the snakes head from one hand to another you-

A) have to slide one hand away to make room for another hand and there is only so much real estate behind a venomous snakes head without exposing yourself to a quick turn and bite

B) You are transferring to a hand that is holding the snake through a bag, so you aren't getting the firm grip you would by placing your fingers directly on the scales

C) You completely lose sight of the business end of the animal while you are holding the business end

[Frisky]

I am from South Africa, and hate both the guy and his show. It is portraying Snake Handlers as Foul Mouthed Show Offs.

As for the bagging process, it is what we call Reverse Bagging and is very safe when done properly. I can vouch for the fact that Mambas, Cobras, Boomslang and very many other Deadly Venomous species have been caught and bagged like this without any incident having occurred. The only species which I do not really advocate trying to bag like this is the Puff Adder as they have been known to bite through the lower jaw.

The system works for us over here and in all honesty, we maybe see the way things are done in other countries and also think them to be unsafe. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

[Mmrseed]

The guy comes off as a bit of a tool and his show is not at all education but it's a chance to see some cool elapids.....I miss Jeff Corwin

[D Grade]

I think his tactic of getting them in the bag controlled is fine. Would I do it, most certainly not. I would use containers, bins, and 55 gal trash cans where applicable. I don't agree with him using tongs as much as he does either, I would use hooks unless the snake absolutely called for tongs.

[Venomhunter]

i would only do it if no other options are available, when i'm doing research for the reptile amphibian and fish research institute here in The Netherlands i sometimes also need to relocate european vipers (Vipera berus) and the wildlife reserve i'm doing this research in is about 70 % swamp, so i don't go around carrying containers for obvious reasons. On those ocassions i use bags which i put in a special backpack.