Hello,

In New Hampshire do I need snake tongs? We only have one poisonous snake and it is endangered.

I feel that a cat grabber would be more benefical.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Cat grabber is a great tool and we use them a lot. But only used them once on a cat.

Don't have snake tongs and do not see us buying any anytime in the future. But we do not do many snake calls either. Maybe a couple garder snakes and thats about it.

I have neither. I prefer hands on snakes but for those that are better hands off I prefer a hook. By endangered I assume you are speaking of the timber and if so that is the only one I would use tongs on as they are large enough that they don't ride hooks all that well, you can two hook them or tail and hook but you better know what your doing. If it's the massaugua (sp?) I assume they would be like our copperheads and would ride a hook like a champ, I wouldn't know as we don't have the massaugua. Fortunately timbers are a once a year type call for me so I really haven't had the need for tongs.

tongs - they are useful for grabbing most any critter or thing.

Have "cat graspers" use those for pulling pigeon nests out from under hard to reach areas
have gentle giant snake tongs, wide mouth style. I like them, but as David mentioned
the hook is a great way to go for many snakes. The logic I've heard is most folks go toward
the hook eventually even if they start with others.

I'm buying two different hooks, one expandable length and one fixed for my two vehicles for
this season. I don't mind my gentle giant tongs, but they are 60" style and it makes it hard to
use them in confined spaces, though they are nice for probing bushes and flipping rocks or
debris.

What it comes down to is what you are comfortable with and what you are skilled with and
some of that comes with time. Most herp folks I know out here run around with the hook
style.

On a side note, I do like the locking bucket lid kit for the 5 gallon buckets. I don't get a bunch
of snake calls that require a pickup other than rattlesnakes but the bucket works nice, is secure
and has plenty of ventilation for the snakes.

Justin

My first experience with tongs was enough to keep me using my hook. A BIG timber with an attitude, I made a grab for it with a cheap tong and even though I went for the front half the snake made a move and I ended up holding the back half. The POS tongs locked up and I couldn't release fast enough when that timber came back at me. I let him have those tongs as I had to get clear.
I'll stick to hooks as they can't lock up.

Another good point!

Yes, the only poisonous snake in New Hampshire is the timber rattler.

The nice thing about timber is just like their name implies I only find them in the timber or areas outside the city so I don't see to many of them. Copperheads on the other hand are found every where from down town to the country.

Rick stay in this biz long enough you'll need the cane as well. LOL
I find that my hook is almost as useful as a set of tongs. I can use it in attics to flip back insulation, reach down and check soffit gaps, I can even hook a set snap on the hook and slide them into the tight spots.