Snakes have been interesting to human beings from our earliest recorded stories, when Eve was tricked by a snake in Genesis. While many people fear them, others are fascinated by them and keep them as pets. Before taking on a snake as a pet, however, the owner might want to think about what a snake's life is like in the wild and in captivity. In the wild, snakes are found in all but the coldest climates and some islands. Wild snakes are divided into two groups: venomous and non-venomous. Non-venomous snakes kill their prey by wrapping themselves around the victim's body in coils. Then they tighten, or constrict, the coils so the prey cannot breathe, and it suffocates. For obvious reasons, the snakes used as pets are constrictors, not venomous.

Constricting snakes live in many kinds of environments, and someone considering a snake as a pet should be aware of these major differences. For instance, boa constrictors live in many different kinds of environments. Some live in trees, some live in water, and some live under the ground. Some will live in or near jungles, while others live in more temperate climates, and some live in desert areas. Of those snakes purchased as a pet, boa constrictors are among the most common.

Most varieties of boa constrictors are native to Central or South...

They have muscular bodies and often grow to be very large, something pet owners must consider. The snake that makes an enjoyable pet when three feet long could be a danger to pets and small children when 15 feet long. Boas eat by capturing its prey and then suffocating it. It can then unhinge its lower jaw, which makes the mouth large enough to swallow its meal. During the period when the snake is swallowing the prey, the snake itself is vulnerable to its enemies, such as large hawks and other hunting birds.
When the giant snakes survive in the wild, some grow to great lengths, sometimes more than 30 feet. But to get to that length, they must survive a variety of hazards. When young, they can be eaten by meat-eating mammals, birds, and other snakes. The larger the grow, the fewer predators they will have, but snakes in the wild can get sick and often have parasites. This is one reason why people should not get their pet snakes by capturing them. In some places it's illegal, and snakes serve a valuable purpose in the wild by eating smaller mammals. Farmers never disturb nonpoisonous snakes because the snakes help solve the problem of mice that could eat their harvests.

Some people like to keep snakes as pets because they are quiet, clean, fascinating to watch, and because they…