Highlands mother defends decision allowing snake to bite baby

The video has since been taken down, but the mother exclusively told ABC Action News that she does not regret putting her baby face-to-face with the snake.

The mother found the snake in the driveway of the family's property outside of Sebring.

"It had bitten me and my son and didn't leave a mark, several times," she said. "So, I thought it was a good opportunity to introduce her without actually getting hurt."

We've confirmed that the Highlands County Sheriff's Office is investigating what happened.

We're told a deputy visited the home Friday to interview the mother.

"People are too sensitive," she said. "They just think that I hurt my child intentionally. The people that know me know that I would never hurt my children."

ABC Action News is not naming the mother because deputies have not charged her with a crime.

She says the child was not hurt, only scared of the snake's quick strike.

"His teeth are too small to actually puncture the skin," she told ABC Action News reporter Ryan Smith. "So he's very harmless."

Living on a rural, 9-acre property in Highlands County, she says it's important that her kids learn how to handle all kinds of wildlife and what to stay away from.

She tells ABC Action News, she grew up learning how to handle reptiles by assisting her father, a Jupiter police officer, with animal service calls. She now believes her methods are teaching her children a valuable lesson.

"She's not scared of snakes but she doesn't want to touch them, either. That was my goal."