SUN-GAZETTE (Williamsport, Pennsylvania) 30 June 07 Up close and persssssonal: Reptiland opens program focusing on venomous creatures (Jessica Lamey)
Allenwood: “Face your fears” may be the most popular quote by psychologists in movies.
For many people, fear takes the shape of a slithering serpent. Ophidiophobia is the professional term used for the fear of snakes.
It might not be an irrational fear, given that many snakes are venomous.
But, one local zoo is trying to get people to understand that these belly-crawling creatures are really not that scary.
The educational show, “Venom,” is held at 1:30 p.m. every day from now through Labor Day at Reptiland, on Route 15.
“The purpose of our venomous show is to give visitors a new, fresh show that informs as well as entertains our crowds,” said Laura Brennan, marketing coordinator. “Until now, these venomous animals were only seen behind glass here at Reptiland. We wanted to give visitors a chance to see these animals up close, as well as be able to inform them of the distinctive characteristics in case they come across one in the wild.”
Most people feel threatened by snakes — particularly poisonous ones — Brennan said, but in reality, many will never come across a venomous creature.
“But, just the thought that it could harm them takes the appeal out of reptiles,” she said.
Thus, the show makes it a perfect way to get up close and personal with some venomous creatures from around the world, as well as ones native to our area.
Frank Payne, zookeeper at Reptiland, recently told an audience of more than 75 children and a handful of adults why “Venom” started.
“We got so many questions especially about snakes,” he said. “There are a lot of myths (about snakes). This show is to answer those questions.”
When Clyde Peeling first started out doing the shows at Reptiland, he used venomous snakes in the informative program, Payne said.
“He used to take out the rattlesnake and milk it when Reptiland first opened. Clyde used to do this for the audience,” Payne said. “That is stressful on the snake.”
Since then opening of Reptiland, the venomous creature were excluded from the show. But, now they are back, and visitors seem enthralled to see and learn about the snakes.
“I think that people are so interested in these species due to the fact that they know so little about them. Venomous reptiles, as well as most reptiles, are misunderstood to most people,” Brennan said. “Also, it is so rare to have the opportunity to see a hooded cobra, to hear a rattlesnake rattle or to be close enough to a copperhead that you can actually distinguish the pattern on its skin. I think that is what intrigues most people that see the show.”
Payne gives the audience rules to follow during the presentation. First, everyone must be sure to stay in their seats because these are venomous creatures and caution is required.
“Are they real?” yells a child in the audience, as Payne begins to pull out the first of five live reptiles.
Oh, yes, they are real, Payne replies.
Two of the reptiles featured in the show are native to Pennsylvania. The state has populations of three venomous snakes — northern copperhead, timber rattlesnake and Eastern massasauga rattlesnake.
“The most common snake you will run into in Pennsylvania is the copperhead,” zookeeper Alex Cannon said. “It is possible, but not likely, that you will run into a timber rattlesnake. The other species from the show are not found in Pennsylvania.”
Payne teaches the group how to identify a venomous snake based on its physical appearance.
“Look at their head. It would be a diamond or arrow-shaped and wide,” he said.
The wide head is necessary because venom glands are stored in the back of it, he said.
The timber rattlesnake uses its rattle for a warning to approaching danger.
“The rattles are made of little bits of dried dead skin, called a button,” Payne said. “Because they are dry, they are loosely connected and that is what makes the sound.
“He’s going to announce his presence even before you see him,” Payne said, while opening a tub containing a timber rattlesnake.
Rattlesnakes do not need to rattle in order to strike. It is a myth that they will always rattle before they strike, Payne said. The rattle is like a nervous reaction.
The fangs of this snake are like a hypodermic needle.
“The fang folds open from the top of his mouth and stabs the food,” Payne said. “Muscles contract and squeeze the venom into its food. Everything happens in about a second.
“Did you know that all snakes are completely deaf?” Payne asked. “They use sensory pits to sense body heat.
“Rattlesnakes (all species) have heat sensors that allow them to strike very accurately, even if it is pitch black. They could still strike very accurately if they were blind, due to these heat sensory pits,” he said. “Other rattlesnakes will go into rodent burrows to find food in pitch black by using their sensitive pits.”
A rattlesnake prefers not to waste its venom on a human, Payne said. “He’d rather save his venom and bite something smaller he can eat.”
A venomous snake also has pupils that are slits, like a cat’s eye. Non-venomous snakes have round pupils like humans.
“That doesn’t mean if you see one, go up and look at its eyes,” Payne said. “If you’re not 100 percent sure, leave the snake alone.”
He likens venom to “modified saliva or spit.”
“The main reason that venom kills a snake’s prey is all it is is special poison. It’s spit, just dangerous spit,” he said.
Payne uses a snakehook to handle snakes. He stressed to the crowd that he is a professional.
“Using a snakehook ... it (the snake) is not in a position where it can bite,” he said. “It’s how I am handling it.
“I work with the snakes every day and just because you see me or others on TV doesn’t mean (you should) do this with snakes in the wild. You are likely to get bit,” Payne said.
“The species that are PA-native, as well as almost everything else we have here at Reptiland, were captive born, either here or in another zoo and given to us,” Brennan said.
Cannon warned those who are out and about and may come across or who are looking for snakes.
“Don’t put yourself in the situation to be bitten,” he said. “If you are not absolutely sure what the snake is that you see, stay away from it. Most people are bitten trying to kill or capture a snake.”
“The best first aid is not to cut and suck out the venom like the John Wayne movie. That is not going to work,” Payne said. “Best bet is to get to a cell phone, a car and get to a hospital.”
Other subjects the show addresses include how a snake’s venom works, the anatomy of Gila monsters and hooded cobras and more.
Reptiland opens program focusing on venomous creatures