Gray area of 'venomous'?

Excellent points, Jon. I concur fully.

Several years ago, about twenty years ago now, I occasionally consulted with Dan Keyler at the Minnesota Poison Control Center. At the time, I was assigned to Navy Fleet Hospital Twenty-three as their Public Information Specialist. Since I was an amateur herpetologist, they also assigned me to the toxicology department as their herpetologist.

Dan and I were in the process of milking a panamint rattler. When we had finished, he casually asked me to grab the cage directly behind me and set it on the milking table. A little practical joke in his eyes. However, when I same the placard for C. scutulatus, I promptly set the cage back down and informed him that he could handle that one himself.

I mention this because of your point about people with insufficient practical experience or knowledge getting into the venomous snake maintenance community. You can imagine how dangerous for someone who thinks he or she has a western diamondback having an accident with a mojave and thinking it's a dry bite.

Keeping any venomous reptile is a risky proposition. I've seen far too many accidents with them involving people who thought "Oh, this is my pet. He won't hurt me." A lot of digital amputations start that way, if the victim is lucky.

My only hot snake is a Giant Madagascar Hognose. I would love to have a Mangrove but, unfortunately, I have a blood condition requiring that I stay on blood thinners at all times. A bite from a coagulopathic snake would be fatal for me.

Rear-fangs are a lot of fun, but the prospective owner had better known what he or she is getting into. The "Oh, it's only rear-fanged" attitude can lead to some very uncomfortable surprises. I know. I tangled with a Montpelier and lost. Once is enough.

In Washington all "dangerous" venomous is illegal (all rear fanged are Ok with the exception of boomslangs) and while this keeps the rattlesnakes and cobras out of the hands of some people who shouldn't own them I feel its a little to restrictive. Personally I would love to own a cobra at some point in my life but with the law I don't see how I could even get the experience I would need to own one safely (soiI won't). I wish the government could see other options than just outright banning things.

I just wish the gov't would make it something you could be licensed for, like a "class A" license of sorts that requires a certain amount of testing and certification procedures that are reasonably attainable. Heck, the state could make money on the certification process.
I agree that public safety is paramount but sometimes the law is just too restrictive. In CA it is nearly impossible to get a permit without being a zoo or institution of some type, hence I have boids.

Look into how falconry permitting works I think most responsible hot keepers would agree that a similar apprenticeship program and permit requirements would work great.

Troy: Just a question regarding Washington; You mentioned that the Boomslang is the only opisthoglyph considered illegal in your State. Does Washington not restrict the Mussurana and the Mangrove?

Here's the section of Washington law that defines what reptiles are banned at the state level " (b) Class reptilia

(i) Order squamata

(A) Family atractaspidae, all species;

(B) Family colubridae, only dispholidus typus;

(C) Family elapidae, all species, such as cobras, mambas, kraits, coral snakes, and Australian tiger snakes;

(D) Family hydrophiidae, all species, such as sea snakes;

(E) Family varanidae, only water monitors and crocodile monitors;

(F) Family viperidae, all species, such as rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, bushmasters, puff adders, and gaboon vipers;

(ii) Order crocodilia, all species, such as crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gavials."

Its RCW 16.30 if anyone wants to look it up for themselves.

Actually, that's a pretty well written statute. You've got access to some great herps. I envy you, my friend.