Posted by:
WALL2WALLREPTILE
at Mon Mar 26 21:05:35 2007 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by WALL2WALLREPTILE ]
Yes, I feed a snake or two at EVERY presentation.
Rather, I should say that one or more of those students in attendance actually do the feeding.
I have been doing these reptile presentations for more than 15 yrs for our local school district...from College Level to Kindergarten. We ARE supposed to educate them.
It is not gross, wierd or cruel to either the snake or the mouse. It is the cycle of captive life. And I am selective about what species I use to demonstrate feeding behaviors.
Now, of course, I supervise the situation...and the Kindergartener's are a little young...So, I do the feeding in that case.
It provides a great opportunity to talk about the tools herpetologists use, proper care & caging, diet, metabolism and the physiology of injesting a large meal.
So, for one day the child (or an adult) gets to be our "Guest Herpetologist". They get to use "Snake Gloves"...(really more for show than anything else)...they select from a vast array of tools commonly used, (15 inch forceps, Hemostats, Snake Tubes, Snake Hooks, Grab Sticks and so on..)
I explain what each tool is used for and why today we will be selecting the long forceps.
Our volunteer dons the gloves with forceps in hand....I present a small bag of thawed rodents...I select the proper size "treat". I explain WHY we offer thawed rodents ....then I place it in the forceps.
I ususally bring a few snakes that are VERY used to the routine...something simple yet showy, like a Blizzard Corn.
(I really think the snakes seem more excited that stressed.)
I explain to the crowd that our "guest herpetologist" told me how to do this correctly...and I "repeat" what the herpetologist taught me earlier...LOL from everyone in the room.
"She said, to present the head of the thawed mouse to the nose of the snake...allow the snake to stick out it's tongue...(we talk about the Jacobsons's Organ.)
I say that once the snake has bitten the prey item that she will let go with the forceps.
The whole time, this little "herpetologist" (along with everyone in the room) is getting an education that they will always remember.
I place the snake - constricting a mouse, back into a shatter proof container... seal the lid... And we pass it from one student to the next, so that everyone can see how it all works.
A corn snake is not a very shy species when it comes to feeding.
They are not easily stressed. I will often feed a corn twice at one presentation!
(Ball Pythons can be shy and might not be a good choice for this...although, I have a few that would likely be fine with it, I would rather use a corn snake)
I have even used c.b. Green Tree Pythons! They are ALWAYS READY!
This is biology at it's best. People are curious about it.
They want to see it. Why not? It certainly gives me their attention and allows me to cover the subject in more depth.
It also sparks some wonderful questions from those in attendance.
Aside from the benefit to people, I make sure that I cycle the snakes being displayed....so that they can have a "rest" while another snake is "on duty".
In all the years I have done these classes, I have never had a single complaint or problem. (I have even taught several church groups and one time I did a class for a bunch of Vegans!)
Kids and Adults are smart enough to understand that this is the diet of a snake...why beat around the bush?
Educate them.
I have 4 more to teach again this week!
By the way, Great poll jdillow!
Harlin Wall - WALL TO WALL REPTILES!
[ Hide Replies ]
- Group Survey: - jdillow, Mon Mar 26 19:25:46 2007
- RE: Group Survey: - nuthnbutbalz, Mon Mar 26 19:38:11 2007
- NO! np - RoyalVariations, Mon Mar 26 19:44:27 2007
- NEVER - j3nnay, Mon Mar 26 20:09:22 2007
- RE: Group Survey: - Claudeballs, Mon Mar 26 20:41:56 2007
- Have to concur... - johnavilla, Mon Mar 26 20:55:20 2007
 YES... - WALL2WALLREPTILE, Mon Mar 26 21:05:35 2007
- RE: YES... - WALL2WALLREPTILE, Mon Mar 26 21:16:28 2007
- RE: YES... - RoyalVariations, Mon Mar 26 23:38:37 2007
- RE: YES... - RoyalVariations, Tue Mar 27 00:00:43 2007
- after more thought,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, - RoyalVariations, Tue Mar 27 11:52:14 2007
- RE: Group Survey: - ChrisGilbert, Mon Mar 26 21:53:09 2007
- RE: Group Survey: - dsreptiel, Mon Mar 26 23:05:05 2007
- RE: Group Survey: - jmartin104, Tue Mar 27 10:16:09 2007
- RE: Group Survey: NO - fgs, Tue Mar 27 10:40:07 2007
- RE: Group Survey: - toshamc, Tue Mar 27 10:45:58 2007
|
