While spiders really creep me out snakes have never really bothered me. I used to play with them as a kid. We would find them out in the fields. Of course I never really saw a big one until I went to a zoo that had some kind of big beautiful snake that they let us pet.
Earlier this spring my grand daughter (now age 9) and I went walking the trails to visit a open spring with a pond not far away. On the way we encountered a little garter snake sunning it's self near the path. It must have just woke up from a long winter's nap because it just stood there checking us out. She was fascinated with it and was considering trying to touch it. I told her it was best not to disturb the wildlife and she agreed.( mind you she is the one that won't let me kill spiders) I was really more concerned about what her mom would say if her daughter came home with fang marks on her hand!
Honestly though I was never bitten by any of the snakes I use to handle but I guess it's different from a grandmother's point of view.
