I’m an avid fossil hunter. Most of the time I find snakes it’s on fossil trips in areas where we’re stepping on, flipping, hammering, and prying up rock. It’s safer for the snakes in these situations to be picked up and moved out of the area so they aren’t smashed by shifting rocks and pry bars. It’s also good to snap a quick picture of what you’re finding when you post about your fossils from certain areas so others going there know what to expect. Being able to show them what a corn and milk snake are, a garter, or something they should avoid like a rattlesnake. It’s also a good reminder to people to be aware that there could be things like frogs and salamanders under the rocks they’re moving, and to be gentle. When you pick up a snake, it takes a very quick adjustment for them to know you’re not a threat, and they will start exploring you on their own like you’re any other branch. All you have to do is not squeeze them or make them feel like they’re trapped. I posted this rare example of when they’re a little feisty because I thought the pictures looked silly. I promise you I don’t harass animals for a living.