From corn snakes to the most venomous snake in the world, the Inland Taipan, the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary has it all – their facility in northern Scottsdale houses hundreds of reptiles.

Amid the blazing heat Saturday afternoon and a room lined with tanks and cages containing some of the world’s most dangerous reptiles, about 15 people attended a PHS class to learn how to handle and capture venomous snakes – specifically rattlesnakes, which are common in the Arizona desert.

In the classroom portion, PHS’ Venom Curator Joe Hymes educated attendees about general information on snake handling, as well as myths and facts surrounding snakes.

Snake demo includes bucket, tongs

After the classroom portion, attendees could then interact with and practice handling a snake, as they would if one was found in the wild.

Hymes demonstrated the procedure to the class with a paint bucket, endemic to many a home improvement store, and specialized tongs designated for handling and capturing snakes.

After releasing Udon, the nonvenomous training snake, from his bucket, Hymes began to handle the snake. Using a pair of tongs, Hymes said to aim for the first third of the snake to half of the snake’s body.

“That’s going to give you a good mix of control of the animal without panicking them all too much,” he said.

Then, using the tongs, the next step is to place the snake into the bucket, either head or tail first. If the snake is feeling lively, it will crawl out of the bucket several times, requiring the handler to go through the process multiple times.

The last step is the hardest, Hymes said, and that is to put the lid back on the bucket after completely removing the tongs, making sure your hands are out of range for the rattlesnake to bite.

“As hard as it is, you have to get your tongs all the way out of the bucket and then slam the lid shut,” he said.

Attendee: Class is beneficial for work

Class attendees were given the opportunity to practice the handling process with both nonvenomous snakes and venomous rattlesnakes.

Katie Anderson, a self-proclaimed “reptile nerd” who relocates snakes through the Tucson Herpetological Society and on her own time, said she came to the class to refresh her skill, but also because she loves snakes.

Honestly, I just wanted to come because any time to play with snakes and be around them is a good day for me, she said.

Anderson, who donned several snake rings, a snake phone case and shirt for the day, said she loves snakes because “each one is unique.”

“They are so intricately designed and detailed in their patterns and I like them because they have the ability to defend themselves with or without venom in their system. Overall they’re just a misunderstood creature, you know, and I want to be the advocate to let people know 'a,' how to identity them, and 'b', don’t kill them.”

Kristina Vahe, who works at a therapeutic riding center, said she comes across snakes often in her job, so “it would be beneficial for me to know how to relocate them,” she said.

Felicia Jackson, who volunteers at the therapeutic riding center, said she wants to be prepared if she finds one at her home in the far East Valley.

“I feel like I just don’t want to be scared if they end up in my driveway or in my garage. I would like to be able to know what to do with them, and I don’t want to kill them,” she said.

What if you're bitten by a snake?

Hymes said because snakes are generally not aggressive, the main way to prevent a rattlesnake bite is simply by leaving them alone.

Beyond that, Hymes said to “never stick any part of your body where you can’t see.”

“Being aware of your surroundings is probably the biggest thing, and then using common sense after that,” he said.

In case someone is bitten, people should act fast, but not panic, Hymes said.

“If you’re bitten by a venomous snake, stay calm, if at all possible. Elevate whatever part of your body, if at all possible. Let somebody know what happened, and get to the hospital as fast as you can.”

Hymes, the class instructor, has been with PHS since 2016. He said his love for reptiles started when he was young, growing up just six miles away from PHS’ north Scottsdale facility.

“Every Saturday morning, my brother and I would go out, catching lizards and snakes, lifting up all the neighbors’ water heater caps looking for geckos, and so we would spend every Saturday morning playing with lizards and snakes and stuff.”

Hymes said the one thing he wants everyone who takes his class to know is that “the snakes don’t want to hurt us.”

“They want to be left alone just like we want to be left alone, and as long as you’re not sitting there poking it with a stick or accidentally stepping on it, you’re very unlikely to be injured by one.”

The venomous snake training course is a three-hour session, of which there's an hour and a half lecture component. To sign-up, contact Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary at https://www.phoenixherp.com.

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