mmm...do you think it's safe?

[JimmyDavid]

looks like finding burms in Florida is becoming standard news.
In this link below, they captured a really big one. She's very agressive too. That's from 3 years ago, so i have no idea where the snake is today and what they are doing with her. But their idea was to take her to schools and show to little kids.
Well, since it's such a big and agressive snake, i think they could find better options. What do you guys think about it?

http://www.local10.com/news/1407995/detail.html

[Reticsrule]

doesnt sound like a good idea to me. if they must take a burm to schools to show little kids,which i think is a bad idea at ALL times(too stressful for the snake IMO), then i think they should get a burm that has been raised in captivity and is somewhat "tame". but the best thing would be not to take any snakes to schools in the first place.

[Boakid]

I dont think an adult burm would be at all phased by a few kids looking at it and stroking it. If it gets up awareness that snakes arent bad, then fewer might be killed by members of the public. That burm probably wouldnt have been the best choice however.

[T.O-SK8TER]

I don t think that is a good idea at all, this animal has lived in the wild, obviousley the snake has killed food before, not a good idea too have near the public.

[BurmFan]

but the best thing would be not to take any snakes to schools in the first place.

How are we supposed to get the word out that snakes aren't bad animals then? I think taking reptiles to schools is very good and very important. I was brought up thinking that snakes are bad animals and should be killed on site, I sure don't want any other to kids to be raised up thinking that.

I have done reptile displays at local fairs (I would like to do it alot more next year) and I have had a very good time and I think the people that voluntarily came to see the snakes had a good time seeing them, and learning the truth about them. Some even staying after hours to talk with me about the best beginner snakes, where to get them, how to keep them, how to get the food, etc.

In a situation with children I wouldn't let alot of kids come up and overwhelm the snake. I would ask the class if anyone would like to pet the snake (the snake being a pretty small one, like a ball or corn) and let the children who wanted to come up one at a time and pet it while I was holding it. With older kids letting them hold the smaller snake by themselves, and petting the bigger ones.

[slitherz]

Hey Guys...
I am not a avid poster, but this thread caught my eye. Oh and as I type this, a 16 foot burm is curling up under the desk at my feet.
I use unwanted reptiles for education or I adopt them out to good homes or other educational facilities. Most of the snakes I come across are simply unwanted pets, and in most cases in not too bad of shape or disposition, but some have some really good sob stories.
The animals I let people touch, (and that is a important distinction) have a demonstraited gentle disposition, and I personally interact with the animals on a weekly basis. Taz the python at my feet is out for his crawl time. I open his cage and the doors on the floor and he can go where ever he wants, and I go about my business. (checking in every few minutes or so)
If at any time he resents my approach, presense or handling of him, he is returned to the cage, but I have never had to do this with him. I also sometimes move things and close doors when he is out.
When I take him to a school or event, I find he is curious, but not stressed. His overall reaction is "go with the flow and check things out" and ultimatly he understands people are part of his environment. Not good or bad, just warm and touchy feely sometimes.
Oh and I have a good system for letting a group touch a large python and maintaining some control of the situation.
I must be boring, Taz just yawned.
Later...

[JimmyDavid]

No doubt. I was yawning too.
LOL, i'm just messing with you... I agree with everything you posted.

[Reticsrule]

ok i guess i came off wrong. yes we need to educate people (especially kids) that snakes are not evil killing machines but if the snake is in a situation where it is going to be stressed out then i dont think its a good idea. and dont forget we are talking about burms here. if it is a ball python, a corn snake, or a SMALL burm then i guess it wouldnt be a bad idea to take them to schools to educate kids about them but if it is 10+ ft. there is a chance (probably a very small one) that a kid could be injured or killed. im not saying that it WILL happen, im just saying the possibility is always there. kids can also make sudden movements or be too rough with the snake and therefore provoke an attack. hope i cleared that up:)

[slitherz]

Now I have found some snakes, like retics, tend to be more visually stimulated into a defensive mode by even slight movement at times, but it is going to be the smell of another animal, prey or potential preditor, that may provoke a reaction that is not desireable.

A recently donated 7 ft boa constrictor bit its owner on the hand while I was picking it up. Just after the cage door opened the snake adopted a slight defensive posture and while the owner was saying, "She has never bit anyone." he got tagged.

I saw the snakes reaction, but before I could say anything he was already bleeding.
It was thenI remembered I had been musked by a squirmy retic that morning and my shirt and pants were still ripe, even though I really didn't notice it anymore.

That 9 year old snake had smelled; people, rats and mice. I apologized, since some of my boas have been around the smell of the retic and other pythons and had no problems.

This boa had not, and I am supposed to be the smart one. I am sure a retic can have a intimidating smell. My friends dog still growls and stares at my left shoe (the one with retic musk on it) whenever I go into his store. I throw the shoe into the corner and that dog watches it like his life depended on it.

Oh, perfume / cologne BAD. Strange animal smells BAD. Smoke BAD. Humans in general to a habituated animal, and wearing various brands of deoderant (hopefully, but not required) GOOD.

Later