Answer: very carefully! This canebrake rattlesnake is the latest snake to be treated in the wildlife hospital. With the help of our friend Jeff Fobb from the Miami Dade Venom One Response Unit, we were able to restrain this snake to have a closer look at what appears to be some sort of condition affecting the head of this snake. But first the snake must be coaxed into the clear tube to create a safe environment for the team to examine her.
Once safely inside the tube we can safely handle this dangerous pit viper to get samples to send off to the lab for a more accurate picture of what may be going on inside the unhappy patient.
Fortunately, she could not double back through the tube.
Finally, we had to go after the most dangerous part of the operation, the mouth of the snake. I found it quite interesting that she kept her fangs "sheathed" or covered by the protective soft tissue of the mouth to protect them from injuries. Not such a nice snake as one might initially think, but certainly a smart one. 
We are very grateful to be under the advisement of Dr. Doug Mader, one of the leading reptile experts in the country for this particular case. So far with very minimal treatment, her attitude has improved greatly and we are still waiting for some of our results. With any luck, she will be back in her enclosure in no time.
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