Hello everyone!

[Joel La Rocque]

Though I have been around for ever, this is my first visit here. I deal mainly with venomous species of snakes and have done so for a bit over 40 years now. I am semi-retired from the venom industry and only supply medical research facilities with venom at the present. I am down to about 25 specimens at present consisting of Eastern and Western diamondbacks, white lipped tree vipers, Cobras, and North American Copperheads. I do take in unwanted venomous snakes or snakes needing medical care. Most of my animals have been through a process developed by myself over the years which makes them about as calm as a kitten. I have 57 bites over a 40 year track record which I admit is not to good. My excuse for so many tags is that I handle snakes every day of the year sometimes numbering over 40 a day. With numbers like that you have to expect a slip every now and then. But I have been very lucky during my career. I am an out spoken opponent against Rattlesnake Roundups and recently built a web site showing the atrocities they commit. If anyone has a minute please feel free to visit it and please leave a message voicing your opinion. POOR SNAKES! (http://www.specializedvenoms.com) I can use all the help I can get before the 2010 event in Claxton Ga. takes place.
Well that's me, I anyone has a question or a comment please feel free to ask. Joellarocque@gmail.com Thanks Joel!

[Will0W783]

Hello Joel and welcome to the forum. Nice to get a person with venomous experience here, from what I've seen there aren't too many on here. I have a bunch of pythons and boas and a few colubrids, including a false water cobra, hognose snake, and two ratsnakes.

[mps725]

Anytime I mention that I own a snake to a un-enlightened person they immediately ask if it bites. In good faith, I can say my snake does not bite, unless you decided to rub a guinea pig all over your hand and reach at him from above really fast, but I am sure when someone asks you, do your snakes bite? you just pull up a sleeve ha ha!

Oh and welcome aboard. I am new myself.

-MPS

[Will0W783]

Do they have teeth? Then yes they can bite. Whether they will or not, depends on how a person approaches them. When people ask me if my snakes bite, I tell them they can. Doesn't mean they will or won't but they can.

[siz]

Welcome Joel :) You seem to have a very interesting history and I've enjoyed reading what you've posted so far. Keep it up ;) Always great to see people with lots of experience on here. I keep mostly geckos and lizards but I adore snakes and want to get into tree snakes and rear fanged venomous snakes like mangroves and vine snakes etc.