handling snake

Question
My boyfriend has a California King Snake that he got from the petshop as a baby. When he got her she didn't mind being handled that much, but he lost her in his house for a while and ten amazingly found her a few months later. He never handles her, and only cleaned her cage when she was lost. He has had her at least a year. Now whenever I take her out of her cage she poops on me, and herself and I have to put her back and wash up. She seems to like being handled less and less all the time. And it's not just when she is shedding, about to shed, or has eaten in the past couple days eather. It's all the time. I don't know if I should sneak up on her when I pick her up or what. I try to let her know I'm there before I just grab her and go slow, but sometimes she stikes at me when she sees me coming and though she has never bitten, it makes me jump, amd she still jerks and poops a fewsecond after I take here out. What is the best way to approach her? I am not a fan of reptiles as pets, but I've been told that (unlike mammals and birds) they don't need to be handled much to stay tame. Is this true or has she become frightend, because she's not used to it anymore, or is it just because she is older now?
I am anything, but knowledgeble in this subject and I thank you for your time and expertise in advance.

Answer
hi tamara,

The pooping/striking is a sign that she is scared...she is being defensive, and that is all she knows how to do.

Reptiles do not need to be constantly held to stay tame..most of the time.
Although reptiles are rather simple animals, they do have their own personalities. Some are just mean/skiddish no matter how much you hold them. Conversely, some wild snakes, who have never seen a person, will allow you to handle them as long as you want and they will not strike or poop.

The fact that she escaped for a few months is probably the reason for her changed personality...I notice that any of my reptiles, when placed outside or even on the carpet, their personality changes almost immediately.

Reptiles that are bred in captivity and then released usually do not survive. Sometimes they are able to adapt, but it seems that they do not re-adapt well back to captivity. I don't know if she will ever be tame again, but handling her frequently would probably help. Good luck to you, and if you have any further questions feel free to ask.