re robert_brenchley's comment;
Catching snakes? I used to grab them and pick them up. Holding them down with sticks etc can result in broken bones, as the skeletons are fragile.
yeah robert but in Australia the snakes are much less sociable than the ones here ha ha, i think we must account for about 4 of the world's 10 most deadliest? my sister had a carpet snake wound around the patio struts one morning (they are harmless). yuck yuck yuck. the nice wildlife man came and just picked it up and wound it round his shoulders. GULP!
but yes of course, you must be gentle as they look formidable but are much smaller than a human really.