There were stories....again, I thought they were just that.......of snakes at those church services that were "milked" before hand.
Dry bites result. Also, stories of the snakes being chilled down, or otherwise anesthetized.
Of course there is always some Punkin or Blue Duck or some other manner of cousin shagger that comes along and spikes the punch bowl with a fresh, pissed off Timber rattler that he caught that mornin........
I have also heard them referenced as "stinging ropes".