[masraum]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I think I'd much rather deal with a tarantula than any snake. I think some even keep the big spider as a pet. I know people keep snakes in terrariums but no thanks for me. I won't keep a bird in a cage either.

Frankly, I'm a city boy all the way. Been out in the wild at times from camping on Lake Havasu (scorpions galore at night) and up near Lake Tahoe camping on a river. But I bet I would have moved out of your house by now reading about your encounters. I've got enough on my mind to not want to worry about every step and reach.

Screw that.

I'm not phobic on snakes or spiders. Stepping on the copperhead got my adrenaline pumping, but once I knew he was there, I went out to visit/observe him several times over the next 2-3 hours, and eventually made a snake hook and moved him. I respect snakes. I don't want them to feel so threatened that they feel the need to bite/strike. The same goes for the tarantula.

That said, I don't want to be surprised by any of that stuff, and you're EXTREMELY unlikely to ever find me with a tarantula crawling on my hand. I'm a city/suburb boy myself. I've been in the boy scouts and done some camping, but that's not the same. I'm happy to live and let live. As long as no one tries to take a bite out of me, we'll live and be allowed to go our separate ways.

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

About four years ago during winter my wife was getting ready to back out of the garage to go to work. We'd opened the door and as she was starting to back out, I noticed a small (juvenile I think) tarantula that had siddled up against the door. I asked if she would like to take it to show the kids - which she did. Now she still has that spider in a glass terrarium in her office. She takes him around on her hand and the kids love it and will sometimes touch it and let it crawl on their hands. When a kid is upset she lets him or her come in to watch "George" for a while. He eats a cricket once in a while, has water, & things to hide in. She told the Superintendent George should be paid, which he laughed at. But after seing how the kids take an interest in George, he agreed but didn't offer a salary.

Wow, that's a very cool story.