I love snakes, and while I don't have any now, I used to have a ton. Especially when I last lived in Durham, then the mountains. Loved taking off with a pillow sack to see what I could come home with. I'd keep my catches for a while and turn them loose before the cold months set in.
While I ran across plenty of poisonous ones, I NEVER kept them. Out of the dozens of snakes I owned, I think I can count on one hand how many didn't get out at some point. (Always fun when a guest made that discovery, lol.) From my snake hunting experience, I never came across a rattler that used its rattle on me. (Only canebrake and timbers, never a pygmy or diamondback.) Even to the point of almost being stepped on, they kept very quiet. Wanna see how fast someone can turn ghost white? Thankfully the phrase "if it was a snake it woulda bit you" never came to pass.
Always wanted to find a coral, but besides being out of habitat (pretty much extreme southeastern NC) they are very secretive.
Cool thread! I'll see if I can't scan a pic or two of a couple I've come across.
PS...quick story on a copperhead that was in my yard in Durham. I moved it to keep it away from my dogs and cats, and used a broom handle to do so. It bit it...good lord that was a ton of venom that snake pumped out. Was fascinating to watch, but wow. One of those "gotta be there to see it" events, but it was between 1 and 2 full tablespoons. For being a relatively small snake, it was a whole lotta toxic goo.