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Florida Venomous Snake Safety Training Seminar

Florida Venomous Snake Safety Training Seminar. What is a Reptile? . Ectothermic (Cold Blooded) Thermoregulation Hibernation Scales No Eyelids & No External Ear Openings Snakes are vertebrates. Sensing their Surroundings. Excellent eyesight Sense vibrations Smell with their tongue

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Florida Venomous Snake Safety Training Seminar

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  1. Florida VenomousSnake Safety Training Seminar

  2. What is a Reptile? • Ectothermic (Cold Blooded) Thermoregulation • Hibernation • Scales • No Eyelids & No External Ear Openings • Snakes are vertebrates

  3. Sensing their Surroundings • Excellent eyesight • Sense vibrations • Smell with their tongue Why the forked tongue? • Heat sensing pits

  4. Poisonous or VenomousWhat’s the difference? • All venoms are poisons but not all poisons are venoms. • Venom requires a delivery mechanism. • Can a poisonous reptile bite and harm you?

  5. Ignorance & Fear(Misconceptions) • Snakes’ evil reputation in western culture and world religious traditions. • Snakes will chase and purposefully try to bite people. • Legends & Tall Tales.

  6. Venomous vs.Non-VenomousIdentification

  7. Snake IdentificationNon-Venomous • Small Head (similar size to body) Note: Applies to North America only. Eastern coral snake is an exception. • Long Slender Body • Round Pupils • No Rattle

  8. Snake IdentificationVenomous • Large “Ace of Spades” shaped head • Neck smaller than the head. • Short, fat, body which tapers to a thin tail • Tip of the tail of juveniles is lighter colored • (yellowish to cream colored) • Vertical slit (cat’s-eye) shaped pupil (except coral snake) • Rattle present on rattlesnakes

  9. VenomousHead Profile Non-Venomous Head Profile

  10. SnakeIdentificationBasics

  11. Snake IdentificationNever say never or always - except there is always an exception to every rule. • Body Coloration: Many color variations exist even within the same species. • Patterns: While colors vary, most species will exhibit a general color pattern that does not dramatically differ from one individual to another.

  12. Snake Identification • Bright and Contrasting Body coloration. • The Eastern Coral Snake displays a brightly contrasting color pattern consisting of red, yellow, and black bands down the entire length of the body. • Know Your Area: In the Florida Keys, some Eastern Coral Snakes do not have the typical red, yellow, and black bands!

  13. Uniform Coloration

  14. Speckles

  15. Stripes

  16. Spots

  17. Cross Bands

  18. Blotches

  19. Rings

  20. Diamonds

  21. WarningBehaviors

  22. Warning Behaviors • Defensive body postures • Striking • Loud hissing (Florida Pine Snake) • Vibrating tail (rattle simulation in dry leaves) • True rattle

  23. “Herping”Snake Location and Interpretation

  24. The right place, right time, right weather. • Protect yourself: First Aid Snakebite Kit. Leather Gloves. Chaps or high boots in thick vegetation. • Preparing your fellow herpers. • Where’s your snake hook? • Binoculars for looking from a safe distance. • Field Guide & Measuring Tape

  25. Props are GREAT! • Snake shed skin • Snake skull • Rattlesnake rattle • Shed rattlesnake fangs • Preserved snake hide

  26. Endangered Species • Never pick up or harass in any way an endangered snake. • Educate your tour groups. • Many species are insular. • Talk about habitat.

  27. Florida’s ManyNon-Venomous Snakes

  28. Non-venomous Snakes • Over 40 species of native snakes and only 6 venomous species. • Snakes are everywhere, but run-ins are rare. • Many non-venomous snakes can fool people into thinking that they are venomous.

  29. Red rat snake

  30. Florida water snake

  31. Scarlet king snake

  32. Black racer

  33. Garter snake

  34. Yellow rat snake

  35. Glass snake

  36. Brooks king snake

  37. Ring-neck snake

  38. Venomous SafetyAfter the Break

  39. Time to Grab a Snack

  40. VenomousSafety

  41. The following information has been gathered from books, medical journals, pamphlets, and websites. You will this presentation find a bibliography, links, and more at www.naplezoo.com/snakes. The resources offered serve only as a sample of available information and commonly suggested methods. • Those responsible for this presentation take no liability for their effectiveness or application. • These are offered for you to create a safety protocol that is tailored specifically to your needs.

  42. Stay out of the STUPID ZONE!

  43. Stay out of the STUPID ZONE!

  44. Know Florida’s 6 native venomous species. • Exotic species may be encountered. Through a process of elimination snakes can be identified to be exotic and/or venomous. Once identified, the doctor will know if further expert resources and medications are needed to treat the bite. Contact local herpetologists for help.

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