“Will it bite?” kids often ask us regarding our snakes when we present our reptile program at schools. Both Chuck and I have been bitten by nonvenomous snakes, and it was most often our own fault, either reaching into their cage with fingers that are scented with mice or startling a sleeping snake without first …
Working with the younger generation inspires us when we witness young people who strive to fulfill their interests and ambitions. In past blogs, we mentioned one such young man with a passion for snakes. Gabe Brown continues to present snake programs to students of his former teachers and continues to impress these teachers with his …
Once again, in less than a year, we have lost one of our elderly snakes. Karma, the Western Terrestrial gartersnake, was a co-worker we depended upon more than any of our other snakes for our reptile programs. Good Natured If a snake could be ever be considered good natured, it was Karma. Her disposition allowed …
The cell phone rang as we climbed a butte behind the volunteer campground on the refuge where we spend summers. “There’s a guy down here flying a drone,” one of the new volunteers said. “What should we do?” Peering through our binoculars toward the row of volunteer RVs, we spotted the man who had skirted …
Several years ago, a man in Denver draped his “pet” 11-foot Burmese python around his neck. Undoubtedly he had engaged in this practice before. But this time, the python tightened, eventually suffocating its owner. Not a Necklace In previous blog articles, we have covered using a snake as a necklace and have advised against it. …
Most people cringe when we mention snakes. And that’s all right, we feel, as long as they respect the serpent’s place in nature and leave them alone to go about their business of eating rodents and other nuisance critters. Observing Snakes But occasionally we encounter someone who, even though they may be a bit intimidated …
“Pigmy rattlesnakes are everywhere around here,” people keep telling us as we volunteer on Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge for the winter. But we’d yet to see one, even when we accompanied Dr. Terry Farrell, biology professor at Stetson University, and a couple of his research students searching for pigmies a few weeks ago. New …