Keeping hots has always been something I have wanted to do. As my kids have grown and are old enough to understand the difference between a ball python and a gaboon viper I felt this was the ideal time to start the journey. But wait, how do I start? First I googled venomous in Florida and discovered that in order to keep these reptiles you must complete 1,000 hours of training for EACH yes EACH family. Viperidae, Elapidae, Colubridae and Helodermatidae with an already licensed keeper. Therefore, what that meant to me was somebody I really did not know would have to trust me with a collection of animals that are not only monetarily valuable to them but can kill me or them and they would be held responsible.
So after searching and sending emails I had found no one willing to let me come and intern or volunteer to work with them and learn. Which I cannot really blame anyone I spoke with, as they did not know me from Adam. Therefore, what do you do? Just keep looking I guess.
In February 2019, we attended SECF (South East Carpet Fest) at Cody and Pia Bartolini’s private facility. Not only did we meet some amazing new friends but unseen to us is the friendship we would forge with the Bartolinis moving forward. After spending some time speaking with Pia (as Cody was making his rounds all night) I explained I was really looking to volunteer or intern doing whatever it would take to get my hours to keep venomous. She was open to the idea but said ultimately it would be Cody who would make that call.
In the end, Cody gave me a shot reluctantly. This has been a fantastic journey of new friend’s new firsts and some very tense moments. NEVERTHELESS, all filled with plenty of snake poop and urates. My weekends are now filled with cleaning, feeding, watering and working with some of the world’s most deadly reptiles. No free handling, no risks, no chest bumping bro moments to show off at all. Cody is there to teach and I am there to learn. Being a part of this process has opened my eyes to just how amazing an experience and honor this really is.
Just some of my background, I started like most catching snakes and salamanders around Upstate New York. This grew into a fascination with breeding as it has for a lot of us today. From veiled chameleons, leopard geckos, crested geckos, ball python’s boas and now reticulated pythons and burmese pythons we as a family have grown into loving this industry. It is great to be able to share these amazing times with all of my children and my wife as well.
So I’m just past my midpoint for elapids and vipers and what a roller coaster. Just a few species I have worked in no real order are, D. viridis, D. polylepis, D. angusticeps, O. microlepidotus, O. scutellatus, B. gabonica, B. asper, B. moojeni, B. atrox and many more of the collections 50 plus species and 250 plus animals. Is it amazing? YES. Is it worth it? YES. I would not trade this time spent for anything and I cannot thank Pia and Cody enough. They are truly our family now and this road is unreal.
Each trip to the facility is different. Never the same encounters. Sure, some of the animals have a very distinct personality but for the most part, we do our thing and safely work each animal. I utilize two hook and hex armor gloves. Now the gloves are not the end all be all it is just an extra layer of precaution. We utilize the typical Brute trash can to keep the animal while we service the enclosure, and at no point do we ever free handle any of these animals for any reason other than examination due to injury or illness.
Honestly, you can find some of these “free handling professionals” on YouTube. The Warning at the beginning says things like, I’m a licensed professional or trained and licensed professional but are they really? Are you a professional if you know enough to admit the animal you are free handling is in shed not happy yet you and others while filming for your bro-cause taunting the snake end up getting bitten and spending 2 months in the hospital? How about kissing a cobra on the back of his head? More Bro-down behavior that has no room in this industry. It truly hurts us all and at the end of the day it will only kill you. These people are playing with fire and might as well take a revolver load one round and play russian roulette as every time you put your hand in the strike zone of one of these snakes you are just asking for trouble.
There are so many plans here at the RPI (Reptile Preservation Institute) and being a part of those talks is very cool. 2020 SECF (South East Carpet Fest) will be one for the books. If you have not been to one, here is your chance to come and support Nidovirus research. Hold the date February 8th 2020.
If by chance you are one of the Bro-hungry guys who needs to free handle to show how awesome you are I understand. I just hope your family doesn’t find you in a situation you could have controlled but chose not to. Don’t forget you are potentially looking down the barrel of a loaded gun and maybe this time will be your last time.
These are my views of handling venomous reptiles. I speak for myself and want that to be very clear. I’m sure I will see some cool backlash from this article. Honestly not a concern of mine. It should however be a concern of yours. Making poor decisions can and will eventually affect us all. If you choose to free handle, I understand that is your choice. BUT, sometimes just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Trust the process.
