While the viper on the loose in Milledgeville may spook some people, a pet store manager says snakes are typically more afraid of you than you are of it.
"We get a lot of crazy reactions coming in here. They're probably more scared of you than you are of it," said Lori Jancasz, a store manager at Rats N Snakes in Byron.
Even so, many people still slither away from the thought of owning a snake.
Jancasz says while snakes may rattle some people, she calls them misunderstood.
"Just working with them and then actually touching them, and feeling them, I think they're therapeutic, " she said.
Some people panicked after a Gaboon viper was found in Milledgeville.
Jancasz says if someone owns the viper, they need to have a permit, since it's classified as "exotic venomous".
"It probably was somebody's pet. Accidents happen, that's why you need to be responsible," she said.
The Department of Natural Resources allows stores to sell non-venomous snakes.
They ban stores from selling venomous snakes.
However, Jancasz says there are no rules regulating people on owning them.
"They make great pets. I find them educational and very rewarding And they're low-maintenance," said Wayne Truman.
He has owned dozens of snakes, including venomous ones, like the Southern Timber rattlesnake, water moccasins and copperheads.
Truman says it's crucial for snake owners to be responsible with their pets by storing them in closed containers and keeping a close eye on them.
Jancasz says it's also important to know when to give your pet away.
"If your snake gets to big and you can't care for it, then you need to call us, call the museum, don't let it go in the wild," said Jancasz.
She says while there are no rules restricting people from owning venomous snakes, the state does ban people from owning certain snakes that are native to Georgia, like the corn snake.
As for the Gaboon viper, If you see it, the DNR says to call 911, and, of course, they say don't approach the snake.
