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HERALD PRESS (New Britain, Connecticut) 15 January 06 An exhibit with ‘bite’ (Jen Haggerty)
West Hartford: Spending the afternoon with venomous snakes may not seem like a good idea at first.
But after visiting "Fangs" -- the new traveling exhibit at the Science Center of Connecticut -- you’ll be glad you did.
The exhibit offers visitors the chance to see 11 live snakes and view interactive displays for visitors to learn more about deadly snakes of North America.
"We book traveling exhibits -- three a year," said Hank Gruner, vice president of exhibits and programs at the center. "The exhibit committee looks at different exhibits [and] we do a lot with live animals."
Snakes include cottonmouth, copperhead and rattlesnakes.
"Another reason we have this exhibit is that we have two poisonous snakes in Connecticut," said Gruner. "We want to show folks how to identify snakes. Some are killed accidentally because they look like copperheads but are actually beneficial."
The two species of venomous snakes in state are the northern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. The northern copperhead is most common in Central Connecticut (in August 2005, copperheads were spotted in Plainville). The snake itself has a banding pattern.
The timber rattlesnake is closer to becoming an endangered species, but according to Gruner, "there are so few of them that people rarely run into them."
The rattlesnake is mainly a North American animal, with the female needing to live for nine to 10 years before it gives birth (which occurs every one to three years thereafter). A rattlesnake can give birth to as many as 25 babies or as few as four.
Gruner said in order to survive, rattlesnakes are not designed to lose individual members.
They can live for as long as 35 years.
Eighty-five percent of the rattlesnake population has been lost since American colonization. Rattlesnakes were seen as undesirable neighbors, along with wolves and mountain lions. The European settlers had bounties on all of these animals.
"There were bounties until 1960 in Southington" on rattlesnakes, he said. In the 1930s, Gruner said that development of roads and buildings also helped kill off a large portion of the rattlesnake population.
"If you look at old maps, Rattlesnake Mountain is in New Britain," he said.
Gruner said there are 23 places that he found in Connecticut that have streams named after rattlesnakes.
Rattlesnakes need a large range of land to live on, unlike the copperheads.
Copperhead snakes can be found in higher population densities and give birth every couple of years, according to Gruner. Copperhead snakes can produce as many as 14 babies in a single live birth. They usually blend in with their surroundings fairly well.
"Hikers walk right past them," said Gruner. (If you do encounter a snake, its first reaction is to coil. At this point in time, you can leave with the probability of not getting bitten. If you persist, the snake will take on an S-shape stance, and not long after it will strike. Remember that snakes are not fast enough to catch a running person.)
Four non-venomous snakes are on display at the center in order for residents to learn more about them. Snakes help to control the population of rats and mice, and one snake may eat as many as 150 mice a year.
Gruner said the northern water snake found in Connecticut is often mistaken for a deadly cousin.
"Most people think we have water moccasins, but we don’t."
The northern water snake is "completely harmless" according to Gruner.
The second snake on display -- the hognose snake -- can be identified by its upturned nose.
When it feels defensive, the snake will puff up and strike, but will keep its mouth closed. They are often killed, and Gruner said they should be a species of special concern in order to conserve them. They are found in New Britain.
The snake does have a venomous toxin, but it is found in its back teeth and is used to eat toads.
Overall, Gruner said while holding the snake, "it’s very mild-mannered."
The third species is the milk snake, which likes to live in old buildings and can become 2.5 feet long. It can be identified with a ‘Y’ shape on its head, with a black and white checkerboard belly.
Gruner said this is the most mistaken snake to be venomous.
In the fall, it can get into houses and shingles to live, and can be found in New Britain and Plainville.
Also in these towns is the black rat snake, which is an excellent climber (it used to be called the pilot black snake). Its scales, which are used to climb trees, act like sneaker treads, according to Gruner.
Still not sure if it’s harmless? All non-venomous snakes have round pupils, like humans. Venomous snakes have cat-like pupils. (Gruner reminded The Herald Press that only professionals should handle venomous snakes, since researchers can even get bit.)
The Science Center has a large topographical map on display (accurate to a 1 to 10 ratio) which is marked with red and yellow dots to indicate which towns have snakes among them. (Red dots indicate copperheads, yellow dots are rattlesnakes.) The map contains the most accurate information as to the whereabouts of these species (updated from information collected in 2005).
There are many activities for kids, including a corner where they can try to capture (toy) snakes, using snake tongs and snake bags, which is what field experts use to safely handle a snake without touching it.
A 25-foot simulated rattlesnake allows younger visitors the chance to crawl through its interior anatomy.
Don’t count on seeing the snakes get fed though -- for the safety of the staff, they’re put in a garbage pail before feeding.
Cultural interactions with snakes are explored throughout the exhibit, specifically in religious settings, along with the myths and realities of snake charming.
There are more than 2,700 varieties of snakes throughout the world -- 115 of them are found in North America; only 20 are venomous.
The exhibit is in both English and Spanish and will run through June 18.
The Science Center of Connecticut aims to be the catalyst for science inspiration and learning for children ages 12 and younger.
The center is 78 years old and the fifth oldest children’s museum in the country.
Find out more
Located at 950 Trout Brook Drive, West Hartford, the center is accessible from I-84 Exit 43 and offers free parking.
Admission is $7 and is free for members.
The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and is open Mondays during school holidays and vacations from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, log on to www.ScienceCenterCT.org or call (860) 231-2824.
An exhibit with ‘bite’

Don't elapids(including corals)have round pupils too? And if you're looking at a wild snake's eyes close enough to see the pupils you're probably a second away from a bite.

A lot has to do with where you are talking about. As most the "experts" you meet are here in the USA, that round vs oval or split applies. Especially since there are no wild pops of cobra here.
All snakes in this country that have oval pupils are at least minimaly venomous with the exception of the Glossy snake. Since this snake's closest relatives are bullsnakes which like rats and kings have round pupils and are not venomous why the eye is different is beyond me.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

I think your description of the Glossy Snake's (Arizona elegans) pupals as eliptical, not round is in error. Unless I'm missing some finer point here?

...just occourred to me you were thinking of Leafnosed Snakes (Phyllorynchus). OK, all good now.

Don't coral snakes have round pupils? I could be wrong, don't have a pic handy to re-check on, but I thought they did have a round pupil. Oh well, still a good point.

Both of your points are well taken Ryan. Pupil confieration is a flawed indicator of a venomous reptile. And if you use that technique in any event, you'll be "suprised" eventually. I think the non-herpetologically inclined want a generality to put their faith in and thus put the topic away. Makes 'em feel better.

You have to be REALLY close to see the pupils, a better test would be if it bites you and you die then it is venemous.