Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

I am wanting to get an educational show running for schools and library's here in Ohio and I am interested in getting a rattlesnake skeleton to show as opposed to EVER risking a live hot. Skins and such would also be cool and interesting!

Any info, would be fantastic.

Thanks,

Chris

Nature Watch or Acorn Naturalist have nice rattlesnake skins (and other educational materials) that might work out well. Skulls, Ltd have top knotch skulls and might have a nice rattlesnake skeleton that you could obtain. We have several and they are all real nice looking. We use these in conjunction with bringing a live rattlesnake into a classroom setting. These rattlers are double caged and locked and the kids truly enjoy getting nose to nose, in a safe environment, with a live rattler. When schools come to our facility, I will actually tube a live rattler and while safely restrained, students get the rare opportunity to touch a live rattlesnake (NOT A VENOMOID)....many attitudes have been changed from this type of encounter.

There is a friend of mine who makes rattlesnake boxes which is a nice table top wood box that has an acrylic box on top with a real rattlesnake rattle inside. On the front of the wood box is a "dial" in which kids can turn the dial and the rattle actually "rattles"; really cool and kids and adults love trying it out. They are not cheap (around $300) but well worth the investment; I now have two! I can give you the contact on that.

Good luck.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL

>>Hello all,
>>
>> I am wanting to get an educational show running for schools and library's here in Ohio and I am interested in getting a rattlesnake skeleton to show as opposed to EVER risking a live hot. Skins and such would also be cool and interesting!
>>
>>Any info, would be fantastic.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Chris
-----
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

"Nature Watch or Acorn Naturalist have nice rattlesnake skins (and other educational materials) that might work out well. Skulls, Ltd have top knotch skulls and might have a nice rattlesnake skeleton that you could obtain. We have several and they are all real nice looking. We use these in conjunction with bringing a live rattlesnake into a classroom setting. These rattlers are double caged and locked and the kids truly enjoy getting nose to nose, in a safe environment, with a live rattler. When schools come to our facility, I will actually tube a live rattler and while safely restrained, students get the rare opportunity to touch a live rattlesnake (NOT A VENOMOID)....many attitudes have been changed from this type of encounter."

Mr. Carmichael,

Thanks for the info, I will try to look up those places. I am certainly interested in having a skeleton, but perhaps only a picture or two of a live rattler for the time being. Having a live rattler would be an awesome additive, however, due to my lack of experience it would be irresponsible of me to even attempt handling a rattlesnake much less bring one into a classroom. That's why I am trying to find a mentor here in Ohio to help show me the ropes. If that doesnt happen, it looks like I will need to try to a catch a real NASTY racer, but I still no that is no substitute. If you dont mind, I would still like to have this contact info, though, because I wouldnt mind getting one, so by the time I am ready, I will have the box (in the event he no longer makes them, when I am ready). Someone mentioned in the croc forums, that skull/skeleton replica's are much sturdier and will last longer. Would you happen to have an opinion on this?

Anyways, thanks again for the info Mr. Carmichael!! Much appreciated.

Best Wishes,

Chris

You can also do this yourself. I do it at work all the time for comparative collection. Anyhow-

Get a DOR rattlesnake that is not too mangled. Skin and gut it. The hardest part is skinning the head, be careful! Boil the carcass until little flesh is remaining, then pick the rest off. For further curation, soak it in BIZ laundry soap and water for a weak and let the enzymes take care of it. Presto.

For the skin, scrape the inside and soak for 2 weeks in anti-freeze or borax water solution. Rinse, tack it to a board (use lots of tacks)with the inside down and let dry for 2-3 weeks. Presto.