MARCO ISLAND SUN-TIMES (Florida) 29 July 04 Kids learn about snakes at Safety City (Carol Glassman)
Officer Hector Diaz of the Marco Island Police Department recently invited Jeffrey Carter, the curator of behavioral husbandry at Jungle Larry's Caribbean Garden Zoo, and one of the few licensed snake handlers and herpetologists in this area, to Safety City at Mackle Park.
Carter brought his working partner Bill Freeman. The program they presented to 20 little kids and a few parents should, according to Diaz, be required for everyone living in this area.
Using live models, they kept the kids spellbound by giving them a wealth of information and safety hints on snakes.
Carter got the children's attention by telling them to be very quiet and stay in their seats.
Without terrifying his audience, he told them the dangers of venomous snakes that bite and inject or sting, versus poisonous amphibians such as the five-lined skink, which make people and pets who eat them very ill. They have to be eaten, he said.
"Not all poisonous snakes are venomous," he said, "nor are all venomous snakes poisonous." Out came the live samples: a coral snake, a Florida pine snake, a yellow rat snake, and a Brooks King snake. Freeman paraded them around the room, one by one, and showed them to the little tykes from close quarters. A few squirmed but no one screamed or left.
"The Florida pine snake is protected," said Carter. "It's a species of concern and is usually found in scrub."
He pointed out the blotches or "saddles" down the sides of a yellow rat snake, that disappear as he ages.
"The Brooks King Snake eats other snakes and is immune to venomous snakes," Carter said. "His big body and big head are about the same size."
Before he introduced the lethal varieties, Carter brought out a first aid kit for snakebite and demonstrated a venom extractor, which exerts suction on a bite. He showed the proper way to wrap an Ace bandage, if someone should get bitten.
"The first thing you should do if someone gets bitten by a snake," he advised, "is to remove all bracelets or rings, if it's on a hand or arm, or shoes if it's on a leg or foot. It could become swollen very fast. Use the venom extractor, then apply the Ace bandage, call 911 and take the victim to a hospital quickly. If you don't know, assume the snake is venomous and get to a hospital immediately."
Carter said not all doctors agree that a venom extractor should be used, but he felt that especially with a child, the venom could spread through the body rapidly and it would be better to remove as much as possible as fast as possible. He also pointed out that snake handlers work in pairs in case someone does get bitten, the other can assist with first aid.
The venomous snakes were all in tagged boxes and emphasizing care, Carter removed them with a long, hooked pole. He repeatedly contrasted the differences in the slimmer heads of the non-lethal snakes to the broader heads of venomous snakes, as he showed a southern copperhead that resembled the more common Florida cottonmouth water moccasin, and a canebrake rattlesnake.
"The cottonmouth lives in swampy areas," he said, "like ponds, ditches, canals, and lakes. He likes to eat fish and frogs."
Just the hiss of the rattlers, when Carter approached the boxes, was enough to make people's hair stand on end.
"If you hear that," Carter said, "don't run: look around you first. If the snake is near you, step away. You don't have to run or poke at it. If you have a very long walking stick, you may be able to move it away from you. If not, stand very still, as any movement can cause it to strike. Let it crawl away."
The canebrake rattlesnake isn't found in south Florida.
"Do not think you can pick it up as I did," advised Carter.
Then along came Bob, the most dangerous of all: a large diamondback rattlesnake. As frightening as Bob looked, Carter assured his audience that he wasn't aggressive and would strike only if he was scared or defending his food.
"He can see at night, and goes out to hunt rats and mice. You may not always hear him rattle if he's asleep."
Carter reminded the kids that pygmy rattlers don't have an audible rattle.
The kids were given the opportunity to pet a harmless snake if they wished, and most were comfortable enough to try, commenting on how smooth and pleasant it felt.
Carter has a BA in Zoology and a master's degree in ethology (the study of animals in their natural habitats). He worked in Sidney, Australia at a facility that farms all of the snake venom for the entire country and said he has worked with reptiles all his life.
Carter is currently designing a seminar to be taught on snakes, in cooperation with an ecotourism course being offered at Rookery Bay.
"I believe every facility and organization should have a protocol in case of snake bite," he explained. "From 7,000 to 10,000 people experience snakebite each year. Of these, the six to 10 fatal bites show that more people are likely to die from a bee sting."
Police officers, who came in to observe, commented, "You won't believe how many calls we get from people who find a snake in their garage or lanai. Everyone should know what to do."
Carter was very specific about what to do and what not to do if you see a snake, and picking it up was definitely not recommended.
"Tell your dad not to touch it," he advised. "You won't have to tell your mom that."
Most snakebites, he said, are suffered by people who do silly things, instead of backing away slowly.
"Don't step over a log," he advised. "Step on top of it and check where you put your feet, especially in long grass."
For home reference, Carter recommended Florida's Fabulous Reptiles and Amphibians by Peter Carmichael.
Carter advised anyone who wanted to pet some snakes to come and see him at the zoo where it could be done safely.
"In my 20 years of handling snakes," he said, "I have never been bitten."
Kids learn about snakes at Safety City