I can remember being chased by a snake once as a kid playing in a sand pit - probably playing in the wrong spot at the wrong time of year - twice though I have been walking along day dreaming and looked down - seen I'm just about to step on a snake (i mean foot RIGHT above it) but backed away slowly and the snakes were not interested in striking me at all.

You just don't want to be like that dude who decided to pick up a snake with his left hand because he usually uses his right but was holding a beer, put it in a sack - ignoring the fact he was bitten - driven off - checked on it (by shoving his hand into the sack) multiple times to make sure it was OK and being bitten several times again - what WAS he thinking! - If he was thinking anything at all!