Your favorite tips for Herping.

[ConcinusMan]

Sounds like a morning trip to my Local metropark may be in order to practice.
In a few weeks I'll be visiting family outside Pittsburgh PA. Their home backs up on a small state park with deer filled woodlands, a lake, and a very moist meadow- it sounds like a good place to look!

I hesitate to go tipping debris thought- there *may* be copperheads in the area, and I'd hate to surprise one up close with a 5yr old participating.

Pretty snake in that video! I'm hoping to spot something different, but we'll see what crosses our path.

Sounds like a good place to flip some gorgeous milk snakes! No big deal if you flip copperheads or rattlers. Just keep your eyes peeled and your hands(and kid) at a safe distance. The snakes usually just freeze in place rather than attack.

[Selkielass]

Every Massagua I've crossed paths with (Literally- they liked to bask on the sandy path to a cabin I was living in.) was a peaceful critter, eager to get away from the big, scary humans. I gave them plenty of room to do just that.

All the 'horror' snake stories I've heard involved cornered snakes, so I've tried not to make them feel cornered.

[ConcinusMan]

Agreed^^^You literally have to be asking for it to get bit. "accidental" bites are extremely rare. I handled rattlesnakes across much of the west and they are either downright tame and handle well, or they are cranky, rattle a lot, but all are reluctant to actually bite. You really got be teasing them and pushing them - asking for it. From what I've seen, most of the venomous snakes in the south are the same way. They don't want to waste precious venom and unless angered and teased, most bites are dry anyway.

Copperheads if found by flipping, will just freeze or flee. Maybe, and just maybe, they'll put on a threat display and strike toward you. If you're mindful, it's perfectly safe to go herping and flipping in copperhead/rattler territory. I think your chances of dying in a car accident on the trip are better than getting a fatal bite from a snake.

Not a bad idea to have anti venom on such a trip if possible though.

Oh, and wear your seatbelt.