Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A quick question for everyone. I come from an area where the saying is the only good snake is a dead snake. I try to speak my piece and it never seems to work, How do you educate people on the importance and beuty of reptiles when they dont care to learn, Dont want to hear or are just stubernly set in there ways?
FOOT HILL REPTILES

>>A quick question for everyone. I come from an area where the saying is the only good snake is a dead snake. I try to speak my piece and it never seems to work, How do you educate people on the importance and beuty of reptiles when they dont care to learn, Dont want to hear or are just stubernly set in there ways?
>>FOOT HILL REPTILES

Jason,

Man! You hit the nail on the head. Those who choose to live in ignorance don't want to be bothered with facts.

As a friend often says: "There ain't no cure for the Dumbass!"

All I can say is keep trying. Be prepared to hear about every idiotic snake myth ever told. And there's always: "Muh PaPaw tole me that - Yew callin' him a l'arh?"

I've never had to fight an ophidiophobe. Although, I did browbeat a Kingsnake Killer into questioning his motives, if not outright humiliation.

One of the best opportunities I ever had to educate the ignorant was when I was working in East Tennessee. A farmer was cutting hay, and he and his hands came back with a dead Cornsnake that had got mangled. I proceeded to open the snakes stomach - we counted 16 mice! It was awesome to see the lights go on!

Good Luck,

John D
-----
I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"

Thank you for your reply. As I said where I come from in N cali everyone seems set in there ways. I have done my part to educate countless children and am very happy about that however the adults seem to be my problem. They ask me if I kill the Rattle snakes I remove and I say no I release them in unpopulated areas where they can thrive. I tell them I never kill a snake and a good share of my collection are snakes that otherwise were injured to a point on not being able to fend for themselves. Hopfully persistence will pay off and some of these adults will start to realize there teachings were not the best. Thanks agan
FOOT HILL REPTILES

Hey man, good work with the kids, that is the way to go, the future is in their hands. I educate Scout troops by teaching the Reptile and Amphibian Merit Badge at summer camps to maximize numbers. All should go this route as they are attentive! Just leave the old schoolers alone and try to show them with respect that everything has a reason for living. Sometimes you just can't win, but keep up the good fight!
Todd Hughes