Snakes have a lot to teach us. Many people are afraid of snakes, some pathologically so. Using a snake to scare a person is irresponsible of you, may injure the other person and is traumatic for the snake. Be sure to feed your snake an adequate diet at appropriate intervals. Snakes under 3 feet should generally be fed prey about the size of an adult mouse once or twice per week.
Larger snakes take more or larger prey at less frequent intervals.
Truly large snakes may eat only once per year, but these are not snakes for novices. Do not handle snakes after feeding, or until they have digested their meals. If a snake is handled too soon after eating, it is often likely to regurgitate the meal, and may refuse to feed for many days afterward. Snakes must shed their skins, but they do much better if you do not help them. If the snake has been fed and watered well, it will grow, and the old skin is carefully broken by the snake and shed in one piece.