[Ads-l] hot snakes

[Jeff Prucher]

 The 1951 and 1963 citations seem to have an additional refinement -- snakes of a venomous species that haven't had their venom glands removed. 
Jeff Prucher    On Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 02:20:57 AM PDT, ADSGarson O'Toole <00001aa1be50b751-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:  
 
 Emily Gordon wrote:
> Nice excerpts! I was interested to see this appearance in a compilation
> called “Grifter and Carny Slang” (no publication year given):
>
> “Hot Snake (Carny): A term (also used in zoos) for a poisonous snake.”
>
> https://www.scribd.com/document/103137009/Scam-Words

Thanks Emily. The following 1951 citation discusses a man who supplied
snakes to circuses and carnivals. The article referred to "hot
snakes"; hence, the slang may have crossed from snake sellers to
carnival workers (or vice versa).

Date: June 28, 1951
Newspaper: Northwest Arkansas Times
Newspaper Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
Article: Turns His Hobby-Snakes-Into Supply Business For Circuses And
Carnivals; Keeps Pets On His "Farm"
Author: Floyd Carl Jr.
Quote Page 11, Column 4
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/article/northwest-arkansas-times-hotsnakes/204000061/
[Begin excerpt]
Almost all of his important sales are to people in show business.
"I don't tell them the snakes are safe to handle," Burrough says. He
handles only "hot" snakes as far as the poisonous types are concerned.
"Hot" snakes are those which are still dangerous as contrasted with
"fixed" snakes, those which have had their poison glands removed.
[End excerpt]

Here are four more citations from subsequent decades:

Date: July 4, 1963
Newspaper: Peoria Journal Star
Newspaper Location: Peoria, Illinois
Article: Snakes Alive
Quote Page C12, Column 5
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-star-hotsnakes/204000204/
[Begin excerpt]
Diamond back rattlesnakes, believed to be the first pair of poisonous
snakes at Glen Oak Zoo, coiled up Tuesday when a photographer took
their picture but are actually three and a half feet long each. Zoo
director Lou Gaeta says they are "hot" snakes, that is, they still
have their poisonous venom.
[End excerpt]

Date: June 7, 1970
Newspaper: Detroit Free Press
Newspaper Location: Detroit, Michigan
Section: Detroit Magazine
Article: A 100-Minute Safari in Our Zoo
Author: Charlie Hanna (Free Press Staff Writer)
Quote Page 8, Column 2
Database: Newspapers.com
[Begin excerpt]
IN ALL THESE years, no handler at the zoo has been bitten by a "hot"
(poisonous) snake, Willson said. But if there is ever a first time,
the staff is ready. Anti-venom serum is immediately at hand.
[End excerpt]

Date: December 17, 1973
Newspaper: The Flint Journal
Newspaper Location: Flint, Michigan
Article: Handle With Care
Author: Craig D. Carter (Journal Staff Writer)
Quote Page D3, Column 2
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-hotsnakes/204000391/
[Begin excerpt]
"We never work with poisonous snakes alone," Siegel said. "There must
be two men present whenever there's work with 'hot' snakes."
Grey doors into the poisonous snake areas are marked with red and
white labels saying "Hot." As an added safety measure, Siegel said, an
antidote for the venom of every poisonous reptile in the house is kept
on hand.
And the "'hot" snakes are handled with hooks, not by hand.
[End excerpt]

Date: March 6, 1989
Newspaper: The Pittsburgh Press
Newspaper Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Article: All that slithers
Author: Bob Batz Jr.
Start Page C1, Quote Page C2, Column 2
Database: Newspapers.com
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-hotsnakes/203999947/
[Begin excerpt]
None of his are "hot snakes" — poisonous ones — though some members
keep those, too. "I just don't feel I can take the responsibility with
my wife (Debbie) and my baby (6-month-old Ron III) here."
[End excerpt]

Garson

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