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Of course the first thing you should do when bitten by a pet snake is get it off of yourself, followed by disinfecting the wound. Then figure out what you did to cause it, and proceed to kick yourself.

I have spent years working at rescuing unwanted snakes, nursing sick ones, and saving misguided wild ones. I have been bitten many times, and usually it was my fault. Snakes will give warning, they don't want to bite you. They are forced to by our actions.

If a snake is hungry use caution, especially if you have handled their food source. If you are warm, moving, and smell edible the possibility of getting bit increases. Avoid snakes that may feel vulnerable. Snakes with a full stomach, clouded eye caps, or that are ill, will be far more defensive. Nature tells them to appear stronger to compensate for weakness.

If you are drunk please do not handle snakes. You, despite what your drunken mind thinks, will be bitten. A study found that a large amount of near fatal and fatal encounters with snakes happen while their owners were intoxicated. So, remember snakes and liquor don't mix, unless you are bit!

I often tell people with large snakes the first thing I do when my snakes hit ten feet is to buy a bottle of Whiskey. No, I am not celebrating, but preparing for the worst. At ten feet a large breed snake becomes capable of killing a grown man. Dousing the super sensitive membranes of the mouth with alcohol will induce the snake to release its grip.

I prefer attempting other techniques before grabbing the liquor. Warm water will often suffice. Begin by unwrapping the snake, tail first. Often just unwrapping the snake and letting it go will get it to release. Why fight when you are capable of flight. If not run warm water into the mouth. I once had a snake that hated ice cubes, so we'd grab a few and run them over her. Use the alcohol as a last resort unless you have a large snake that is actually trying to constrict you.

I have two bottles of mouth freshener attached to lanyards, that I keep on me when dealing with strange large snakes. I attach one to my wrist and one to my ankle. Then, if the worst should happen, whomever is assisting me can utilize the spray. I find this more convenient than toting a bottle of Vodka.

My last advice, is prepare for a bit of pain. Being bit by teeny, tiny, razor sharp teeth hurts. Add to that they are rear facing and you get more pain getting free than being bit. Try to move the bite site backwards off the teeth to aid in getting free. It is similar to stepping on broken glass, and the smaller the cut the more you will bleed. Little snakes can cause nasty bites and big snakes are even worse. Oh the joys of snake owning!

Learn more about this author, Jessica Ashley.
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