oh BTW, i forgot to mention not only make yourself known, but it's good to let your snake see you visibly and then come from the side, and not from above or from behind. Be quick, and firm, but gentle. I like to pet my corn a little to let her know it's all good, and then i go to pick her up. I've only been doing the petting thing for a little over a week, but she's pretty tame now and doesn't try to run at all now.