Hey everyone, here is some info on me.
The marriage that killed my love for snakes and the Corn Snake that saved my life.
Been a snake collector for over 20 years.
I have been registered with the FG&FWFC to possess or exhibit Venomous reptiles over 10 years.
As a side job for a few years I worked for Week’s Snake Removal.
I’ve been on the front page of the Local section; Tallahassee Democrat July 1995
For years I collected snakes, it was more then a hobby but apart of me. Being involved with snakes was a way of life for me. All my free time was spent watching my snakes, improving cages, talking with the guys up at the local reptile shop, spending thousands of hours in the field including night driving. I spent so much time with my snakes that I was able to free hand many of my venomous snakes including (Fatality) my 6 foot Eastern Diamondback that made the front page of the local section of the Tallahassee Democrat.
I have freehanded Pygmy Rattle Snakes, Rhino Vipers, Sidewinders, Neo-tropical Rattle Snakes and W. Diamondbacks. Some called me crazy and maybe I was but it was a love and understanding of the snakes that I felt a bond with them. I even had my E. Diamondback potty trained. I could pick him up with bare hands, take him to the yard and he would poop. You might be asking have you ever been bit? Twice I have been bit. Once by a Prairie Rattle Snake, he was able to get 1 fang in my thumb as I was picking him up behind the head. The other time was by my Diamondback but it was a DRY bite and I strongly believe he wasn’t sure if it was me or feeding time. He lunged forward and hit the palm of my hand, I was so thankful he wasn’t out to get me.
In December 1996 I married someone who I really didn’t know, we both thought we were meant to be together. I stayed with her through 3 ½ years of hell and we had a child together. He was growing up and my X kept telling me I need to get rid of the snakes and after a year or so being told this I finally gave in thinking this is best for my son, just incase. 6 months later the bitch left me and I have regretted my decision to get rid of the snakes, it has ate at me every day. My heart was broken and for almost 6 years I have been without snakes. 1-½ years after my X left me I remarried but my current wife is the type who will cry if she sees a snake. I haven’t really pushed snakes on her and thought I would never own snakes again.
4 days ago a neighbor called me up and told me to come up the road and catch this snake that was crossing the road. I ran up there and was expecting a water snake or garter snake as I usually see around here. This time it was my first Corn Snake after living here 2 1/2 years. I bought it home and kept it in a box as I told my wife, “Don’t answer me now but tell me what I got to do for you to allow me to have a snake”. After a day I finally got her to say ok, but it has to stay in my game room and if it ever gets out….
I now am an owner of my first snake in 6 years, my son and I have been going out every night looking for snakes on the road and we both love it. I feel like my life is full again and that void for 6 years has been filled again. This time I am with my 4 year old son who is just as excited as I am. It’s a great feeling and one that I will never give up again.
We live in Jacksonville and last night we caught and released 2 Yellow Rat’s, 3 Garter Snakes and just missed 2 dead Corns and 1 dead Yellow Rat. I have lived in Florida for a long time and I have never caught or seen a King Snake. One Scarlet King but never an Eastern or Florida King, not even a dead one on the road, I just don’t get it.
The marriage that killed my love for snakes and the Corn Snake that saved my life.
Been a snake collector for over 20 years.
I have been registered with the FG&FWFC to possess or exhibit Venomous reptiles over 10 years.
As a side job for a few years I worked for Week’s Snake Removal.
I’ve been on the front page of the Local section; Tallahassee Democrat July 1995
For years I collected snakes, it was more then a hobby but apart of me. Being involved with snakes was a way of life for me. All my free time was spent watching my snakes, improving cages, talking with the guys up at the local reptile shop, spending thousands of hours in the field including night driving. I spent so much time with my snakes that I was able to free hand many of my venomous snakes including (Fatality) my 6 foot Eastern Diamondback that made the front page of the local section of the Tallahassee Democrat.
I have freehanded Pygmy Rattle Snakes, Rhino Vipers, Sidewinders, Neo-tropical Rattle Snakes and W. Diamondbacks. Some called me crazy and maybe I was but it was a love and understanding of the snakes that I felt a bond with them. I even had my E. Diamondback potty trained. I could pick him up with bare hands, take him to the yard and he would poop. You might be asking have you ever been bit? Twice I have been bit. Once by a Prairie Rattle Snake, he was able to get 1 fang in my thumb as I was picking him up behind the head. The other time was by my Diamondback but it was a DRY bite and I strongly believe he wasn’t sure if it was me or feeding time. He lunged forward and hit the palm of my hand, I was so thankful he wasn’t out to get me.
In December 1996 I married someone who I really didn’t know, we both thought we were meant to be together. I stayed with her through 3 ½ years of hell and we had a child together. He was growing up and my X kept telling me I need to get rid of the snakes and after a year or so being told this I finally gave in thinking this is best for my son, just incase. 6 months later the bitch left me and I have regretted my decision to get rid of the snakes, it has ate at me every day. My heart was broken and for almost 6 years I have been without snakes. 1-½ years after my X left me I remarried but my current wife is the type who will cry if she sees a snake. I haven’t really pushed snakes on her and thought I would never own snakes again.
4 days ago a neighbor called me up and told me to come up the road and catch this snake that was crossing the road. I ran up there and was expecting a water snake or garter snake as I usually see around here. This time it was my first Corn Snake after living here 2 1/2 years. I bought it home and kept it in a box as I told my wife, “Don’t answer me now but tell me what I got to do for you to allow me to have a snake”. After a day I finally got her to say ok, but it has to stay in my game room and if it ever gets out….
I now am an owner of my first snake in 6 years, my son and I have been going out every night looking for snakes on the road and we both love it. I feel like my life is full again and that void for 6 years has been filled again. This time I am with my 4 year old son who is just as excited as I am. It’s a great feeling and one that I will never give up again.
We live in Jacksonville and last night we caught and released 2 Yellow Rat’s, 3 Garter Snakes and just missed 2 dead Corns and 1 dead Yellow Rat. I have lived in Florida for a long time and I have never caught or seen a King Snake. One Scarlet King but never an Eastern or Florida King, not even a dead one on the road, I just don’t get it.