I purchased these tongs(well made product IMO) 4 yrs ago for the wife to handle snakes in the vicinity of the house and barn. It helps to pull them out of the rose bushes, and to reposition the reptiles away from the house and into the woods.
It's worth it if you live in an area w/ poisonous snakes, or keeping your distance if you make an mistaken ID (or if you just don't like touching them); 99% of what I have seen are ratsnakes and red-belly water snakes.
I don't feel the compelled to kill snakes indiscriminately either, and I haven't seen a mouse(or signs of them) in the barn for 3 years...I haven't seen as many snakes near the house/barn area since the mouse pop. reduction also...
http://tongs.com/gentlegiant40inchtong.aspx
