Why do people keep venomous snakes as pets?

I don’t understand the appeal. I guess it is the same appeal, well sort of, the same only different; in the appeal snake handlers have in picking up deadly snakes. Maybe she was a snake handler. What state @jca?

Snakes are really cool. And they may appeal to more “dangerous” people.

@bkcunningham: Putnam Lake New York. They were hobbyists. The snakes are now in the property of the Bronx Zoo.

You can google it.

Is that legal? To keep venomous snakes.

@bkcunningham: From what I read in the paper today they would have had to get special permits to have these types of snakes, and they did not have the permits, which is why it is suspected that she hesitated to call 911. So she’s bitten, does not call 911 because she was afraid of getting in trouble, and so she dies.

I think there is a sort of appeal to living with something that could easily kill you, but doesn’t. (That is, until the day it does) It may be a high is received from feeling that you have tamed the animal. Like the same reason certain girls go for bad boys. Or it could be the thrill of living on the edge, like bungee jumping

I’ve seen snake handlers whose hands and arms were deformed. Physically deformed from the bites of copperhead and other venomous snakes. My dad tells the funniest story of a snake handling church back when he was a young man just returning from fighting in World War II. He was drinking with one of his buddies and they decided to go to a church where his friend pretended to get saved. He got to the front of the church while my dad sat on the back pew. The church folks thought the young man, returning home from the horror of war and drinking a bit too much, had decided to get saved. When he went to the altar, he accidentally kicked the box with the copperheads over and they went slithering thoughout the aisles of the church. People were dancing my dad says with a sly smile.

The possible reasons are probably quite myriad, but your question reminds me of a part in Oliver Stone’s movie “Natural Born Killers.”

A Native American man takes in killers Mickey & Mallory Knox, feeds them and such.
He gets a premonition of his death and tells them this story:

A man found a half dead rattlesnake by the side of the road.
He took it home, fed it, housed it, for a long long time.
One day the snake up and bit him on the neck.

As he was dying he asked the snake,
I took you in, fed you and gave you a home
Why did you bite me?
To this the snake replied,

You knew I was a rattlesnake!

I think snakes are very interesting creatures, and, I have no fear, of the harmless ones, but, I have tripped over a rattlesnake or two and, no thanks, they can stay out in the weeds where they belong. I guess that’s the risk you take, like owning geese, you might get goosed, but you won’t die. haha

Maybe they’re attempting to win a Darwin Award.

Coloma, did I tell you my goose story? I was at the lake one day with my husband looking at the geese and the ducklings. Two women came along. One got out of the cart on the passenger side and came straight at me and thrust some hamburger buns in my hands. She said, “Here feed the geese so we can feed the ducks.”

I started laughing and she said “Seriously, my sister told me how mean those geese are and I want to feed the ducks. Distract them for me.”

They may have a strange fascination with power. Like people who keep lions…or women with really mean tempers.

@BeckyKytty like the old song Al Wilson covered, The Snake
There is probably an element of thrill courting danger with these pets.
They certainly ain’t particularly rewarding in the loving & comfort departments.
Take them away. Don’t let the door bump your butt on the way out.
And take the tarantulas with you. Please.

@woodcutter One would do much better with lions, or even more so with cheetahs; they can learn love and loyalty, especially if raised from infancy. Give me a mammal any day! We have more in common.

@anartist A wild animal is just that, a wild animal. I think they who have them in captivity are playing with a hand grenade with the pin pulled.

Different people like different stuff.

Some enjoy adrenaline rush so they go and ride roller coasters while others like adrenaline to be pumped all the time by keeping poisonous snakes around them. [ or those who like scorpions over their body or other poisonous worms etc ].

Because they are dummer than a bag of rocks!!!

Because it makes them cool. Until they die.

Ridiculous.

@bkcunningham

Yes, park geese can be rather aggressive, they are very territorial, but, raising them from babies if a whole differnt story, they imprint on you as mother goose and are very nice pets, :-)

That is tragic but that’s one of the consequences of owning dangerous pets.

I also wonder why people keep pure-bred, aggressive pitbulls or other breeds that are inclined to violence in a household. If you want security or you’re a drug dealer, okay, but why the HELL would you get one of those dogs if you have a family with children? You’re just asking for a mauling.

People keep potentially dangerous pets because:

1) It’s cool. Snakes are cool. They just like them!
2) They may enjoy the risk.
3) They may just be plain ol’ stupid and don’t know/care about it.

I think if someone is responsible and knowing of the risks but doesn’t have any innocent people living with them (ie children, old people, etc) who are vulnerable and can’t/won’t consent to the pets, then YES…they should be able to do it. Not my thing at all but I’m not infringing upon their rights.