Rich, Did you skinned-up badly? I still remember how my wonderful biology professor, W.K. Davis, at Southwest Texas State College in 1965, taught both my wife, Ethel & I how to catch & hold a snake, by holding the snake's head right behind the jaws with the thumb & first digit (pointing finger) with the hand with which you write, and the snake's tail with the other hand. This is to insure that the snake can't bite you, nor whip out of your grip. Watch the pavement, Rich, it comes up mighty fast. Best Wishes, Rich, Ethel & Mike Hodges