I've watched Steve Irwin's technique, but I'm still too scared to pick up a dangerous snake?

Question

Do you just go out there and do it a few times before you get over this? I'd like to be on Animal Planet when I grow up.

Answer 1

Don't try it! You should never try to catch and handle venomous snakes with your bare hands. Just because you've seen Steve Irwin capture venomous snakes bare-handed doesn't mean it's something you should try. It's not! Almost everyone who handles venomous snakes on a frequent basis eventually gets bitten, and not all of them survive the experience. If you want a career working with snakes, on screen or off screen, you should first obtain an undergraduate degree in zoology, followed by a graduate degree in herpetology. Second, you need to learn from experts how to capture and handle live snakes using specialized equipment such as tongs, hooks, etc. I hope you will take my advice. It could very well save your life.

Answer 2

Steve Irwin knows, after years of experience, how
those snakes behave, otherwise he would have
been killed long ago, because he is fooling around
with some of the most dangerous snakes in the
world. Also, it seems that the Australian snakes,
which are in the cobra family (the poisonous ones,
they have other families, also) are much slower on
the strike than the viper type snakes. Rattlesnakes
and similar snakes have a very rapid strike and
probably could not be handled the way Irwin does
with the Australian snakes. The best advice is to
let poisonous snakes alone unless you have been
trained in how to deal with them.

Answer 3

Steve Irwin is a bit of a wanker, and his usual technique seems to involve being too stupid to die.

For most people, caution when handling dangerous animals, such as snakes and spiders is something to be commended, not overcome.

If you want a good role model on how to handle dangerous animals properly (if at all), and ensure both your own safety, and more importantly the safety of the animal, then I recommend watching Jeff Corwin. He's built his own successful career on Animal Planet without being a glory-hounding stunt-dude wannabe.

Using devices such as capture poles and snake sticks may not make for footage that is as exciting and breathless as Irwin's, but by respecting the danger of the critter itself, and handling it properly you are much less likely to injure the critter.

Answer 4

Yeah, I watched the ER documentaries a few times but I'm kind of nervous about shocking an arrhythmia. Should I just have a go at it a few times to get over it?

Great plan you have there. Don't do it. Besides, there's a big difference between a real biologist and an Animal Planet one, namely that the latter is much more of a stunt actor.

Answer 5

Steve Irwin is a tool

Answer 6

The fact that you're scared show that you have a brain. To pick up dangerous snakes you need professional training.

Answer 7

I'd recommend listening to your mind telling you to be afraid. He went to school to learn about the animals, to practice with non-lethal snakes, and has years of experience, and a medic standing by ready to administer the anti-venom. You have none of that.

Answer 8

You don't do that at home! You go to school and are trained to do it. Steve still gets bit from time to time. You could be killed.

Answer 9

Don't pick up poisonous snakes....you will get bitten and depending on the snake that bites you you may die!

Answer 10

uh unless you've been trained i wouldn't do it or you won't make it to adulthood