Beyond me why someone would try and pick one up. I have encountered probably 20-30 in my area (Central Coastal Calif) and tho sometimes they don't want to move, eventually they will. I have had my bike tire struck once when I tried to back my bike towards it to get it off a path where it was going to get run over. And I have had a snake coiled and rattling for all it was worth when it was almost stepped on by my friend's horse. All the other encounters had the snakes either unconcerned (rarely) or most often being afraid of us and scurrying out of the way (usually)! My 2 cents are that most importantly is not to harass them except from a distance if you really need to move one....and then get help right away if you do get bit by getting too close accidentally and being too threatening.