My credentials in venomous, by request

[sneakysnake]

Let me start out saying I hate to talk about myself, because I no more important than anyone else.  But I have been asked by one of the moderators to post this.  So here I go.

I have been into venomous snakes for over 28 years.  I have trained with other handlers and studied everything I could find on venomous snakes.  I started out handling the fastest, meanest non venomous snakes I could find.  I learned all I could about venom and its effects.  Learned about each venomous snakes that had.  Researched emergency procedures if I were to get bit and what to expect.  I took it very seriously  getting into venomous snakes.

I got all the licenses I needed from the DEC.  My licenses are exhibition purposes.  I have licenses for:
collecting and possessing native snakes
venomous snakes
threatened and endangered snakes

I am considered an expert by the DEC.

I am totally legal.

I have been bitten once by a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, so I know what it feels like, PAIN.

I have been on TV, did a Canon commercial and the local news.  Have been asked by the Discovery Channel to work with them after they had seen my shows.  I had to decline do to lack of time.  Had my own radio program, call Redneck and the Snakeman.  Been in the news paper uncountable times, with a feature article about the Snakeman.  (Some of the clippings can be seen @ reptilegeeks.com, under the profile of gaboonsnk.  Look at the pictures in my gallery, in the snake show folder.)

Some of the places that I have done shows over the years are:

Was the snake program for years for the Audubon Society
Hunters Safety Course for the Sheriff Dept. and Gander Mountain
Museums
Library system
Uncountable schools
Prison Systems (they are a captive crowd) lol
Uncountable birthday parties
Earth Day events (the best one was at the original Woodstock site in       
        Bethal, NY)
Drug Awareness Events
Barnes & Nobles & Lauriats Book Stores
Long Beards Events
Boy Scouts
Science Stores
Autism Fund Raiser
Churches Youth Programs
Pet Stores
Public Fairs
Corporate Events
Camps
Farmer Outings

I work with the DEC and Law Enforcement removing unwanted snakes.  I take any unwanted or sick snake. 

I have designed and have all the proper safety equipment needed to handle venomous. 

I have trained students from the local college that were taking Zoology how to handle venomous snakes.  (They had to clean my enclosures for free)

I post this only to show my credentials and if I can help anyone or answer any questions please feel free to ask.

I also handle and keep the Big Boys and have experience with boas, pythons, venomous and colubrids.  The one thing I do not do is breed snakes. 

Hope this answers some questions about my back ground.

[Franz-maul]

I'm really impressed ...

...   credentials !!

Venomous are illegal "pets" in my State (Italy, UE), so it's impossible to find people like You are !!
They are, obviously, but are in research and venomous are not in legal-collections
(pretty sure someone takes them illegally, of course, but it's quite impossible to see them !!!!! !)


Congratulations for what I read here !!

[sneakysnake]

I'm really impressed ...

...   credentials !!

Venomous are illegal "pets" in my State (Italy, UE), so it's impossible to find people like You are !!
They are, obviously, but are in research and venomous are not in legal-collections
(pretty sure someone takes them illegally, of course, but it's quite impossible to see them !!!!! !)


Congratulations for what I read here !!

Thank you.  Like I said I'm not trying be impressive, just informative.

[Franz-maul]

I like snakes and all reptiles, I'm in reptiles (not HOTS) for a lot of years and unfortunately, my way to expose what I think can be misunderstood !!

So let specify that mine was a total positive way to "be impressed" !!

Reading your posts  here around and I found interesting stories, man,
not kidding and not joking (as I'm unpopular to be a lil-over-kidding dude !! !)
But I explained who I am and what kind of person I am from the first posts...
... maybe it's a funny-english, I know it ... but it is so, and it could be enough only to read the presentations ...
... and not only reading the shampoos labels  !!!! LOL LOL LOL LOL

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

Thanks so much for posting that here Jerry.  I did ask him to post his experience because unforunately there are so many unexperienced herpers out there that think that they can pick up a venomous snake and handle it right away.  It is not something to just joke around about and can cause serious damage to your body, death, and of course negative publicity for the reptile world as a whole.  

Again,  

[Kricket_150]

Wow,  that is very impressive.  Thank you for sharing your credentials.   

[ivy_trick_mess]

"Prison Systems (they are a captive crowd) lol"

  I love it!!!!!!

It seems like you have invested a lot of time in your hobby...some people just jump in head first (like me)...of course I don't do hot's...but I love my "kids" and learn something new about them every day!

[LadyBloodRose]

Thanks so much for posting that here Jerry.  I did ask him to post his experience because unforunately there are so many unexperienced herpers out there that think that they can pick up a venomous snake and handle it right away.  It is not something to just joke around about and can cause serious damage to your body, death, and of course negative publicity for the reptile world as a whole.  

Again,  

That is all o true i have been workingf or a while to discourage this 14yr ld kid who has apparentlyc onvinced his mom hes the snake whisperer as it were  an the mom is planingt o actualy buy him several venomous snakes at the hamburg show -_-. ALota these kids may just be blowing smoke to rile us up, but some are actualy foolish enought o go threw with it when they have no real exprence.  I've  worked with venomous snakes going on 16 years now myself. An if you coudnt that up it means i was prety young when  exprenced my first hot as an offical captive.
there is ALOT of work that goes into these snakes, its not as simple as many may think. Even simple spot cleaning, water changes etc. can be quite a hazaderous chore. You never know what that Copperhead will do, or that Rattler etc. 1000 times it can ignore you, 1001 its in your face halfway out the door. Let me tell ya its an exprence that gets your heart pumping.

[Sylvias]

Awesome posts guys! And great idea Tara! As crazy as i am interested in hots I wont handle one untill i have the right training and not everyone thinks that way...especially the younger ones.  I think it's great that you guys can talk about your creds and experiances for the rest of us who would like to get into hots!!!

[jparker1167]

very nice,  what elapids have you kept i have been looking for some yellow cape cobras. your not to far from me maybe one day we can meet up at the hamburg show if you can go. my friend brad was also bit by a western diamond back a few years ago def. not a snake to take a hit from.