I think this is a great post and it illustrates some good points.
Whether you are afraid of snakes or not, the key here is to THINK before you overreact, dealing with snakes can surely be scary if you have no idea if it's poisonous.
That fear is the same you have going to a Job interview, and it's means you're unprepared.
The solution is to learn what snakes are indigenous to your area, or an area you might be camping in for example. That will not only relieve allot of the stress that could be generated upon discovering a snake in your area.
BONUS: but if you are mentally prepared there is a whole other side of it:
-adventure, discovery, FUN... ( as well as being Safe and having Peace of mind ).
It changes your whole experience when you don't loose control of YOUR situation.
That can only be done thru some level of preparation, experience & knowledge.
Here in Texas we have Rattle Snakes ( lol ) so... Count your Blessings :-)
We have a variety of rattlesnakes here, plus the copperhead and cottonmouth.
So far, I have only been able to find the Pygmy Rattlesnake, as far as rattlesnakes go, but I've found a few.
It is not so much me finding the venomous snakes that I am concerned about, it is the @little-peppers and others, but so far, they have done a great job of finding them and letting me know.
Most of the rattlesnakes I've caught was because children told me about them. Thanks.
It's really very important KIDS most of all are well informed about Snakes. Most kids are smart or scared enough to do the right thing, just let it be and walk away. But there is always peer pressure and always that kids who's so cool he has to go screw with it to be popular. That's how accidents happen.
Very Excellent Post.
-Guns & Snakes are not bad, people with no knowledge or expertise around them are.