mine did that the first time I tried handling, coiled rattled, struck, flailed, bit. But the second time, he just freaked out for a few seconds when I grasped him/her, then bit. Third time, nothing. 4 time, flailed, but let me grasp and lift, rattled in my hands and bit but then mellowed out. It's just to try to scare you away and see if it's possible, but once you've let them know and handle them and don't put them down after they've bit or whatever, they calm down. A friend of mine owns a kingsnake and lets himself be so intimidated that he won't pick up his snake because all his snake has to do is bite and he'll leave it alone. But me and another friend can just reach in and pick it up without any problem. It's just because we don't hesitate and let the snake know that we're intimidated. Show it who's boss!! lol jk.