Easing Rattled Nerves

Patrick Musone has a plea for Ventura County residents: Please stop killing the snakes.

Musone, an educational advisor with the Ventura County Department of Animal Regulation, said unwarranted fear and ignorance of the reptiles lead many people to one conclusion--snakes must all die.

In reality, they are not much of a threat.

Americans are more likely to die from being hit in the head with a golf ball than from the bite of a venomous serpent, he said.

In an effort to educate the public, the department is hosting a series of seminars for children and adults. On Tuesday, Musone visited the California Indian Education Center in Ventura, where he taught 21 children about the county’s four main species--the California king snake, the gopher snake, the garter snake and the Southern Pacific rattlesnake.

“A lot of people can’t enjoy camping, gardening or hiking because they are unreasonably afraid of snakes,” Musone told the group.

In fact, he said, snakes perform a crucial function for society by killing rodents. For this reason they should almost never be killed--not even the poisonous ones.

To the truly snake-phobic, however, “don’t kill them” is not very comforting advice. Musone also offered tips on how to avoid the creatures altogether.

Dripping faucets, wood and junk piles, low bushes, and gopher holes tend to attract snakes, Musone said. He recommended wearing boots and baggy pants while hiking and remembering to keep doors and screen sliders shut.

During snake season, which runs from April through October, Musone advised residents to take precautions.

Earlier this month, Simi Valley toddler Hannah McKee was bitten by a rattlesnake while playing in her backyard. She was treated immediately and has recovered, but her parents want to make sure other children are protected from similar encounters.

The McKees called Musone to visit their house shortly after the incident and learned that precautions such as fixing the faucets and filling in gopher holes could deter snakes from creeping into the yard.

“These are very good things to do,” said Hannah’s mother, Kathryn.

As Musone spoke to the children, several young volunteers cradled nonvenomous snakes in their hands. Ten-year-old Brian Schumacher of Ventura picked up an adult gopher snake as his peers giggled nervously.

Brian never even flinched.

“I love snakes,” he said, stroking the reptile’s head.

Brian’s mom did not share her son’s level of comfort. When Musone uncaged a realistic-looking rattler, Mary Schumacher jumped back and gasped. She appeared to be only slightly relieved to find out that it was just a plaster replica.

Musone displayed the snakes to help kids recognize the differences between the venomous and nonvenomous varieties. The Southern Pacific rattlesnake is the county’s only venomous reptile.

There are six signs that a snake is poisonous:

* It has a large, triangular head.

* Its head is larger than its neck.

* It has a thick, heavy body.

* It has a blunt tail or a rattle (sometimes the rattle is missing).

* It has elliptical pupils, not round.

* Its nose is turned up, not smooth and round.

“In our county, this is the law,” Musone said about the guidelines for identifying poisonous snakes. “But in the world, there are a few exceptions.”

Musone’s advice regarding snake sightings, whether they appear harmless or not, is to leave the creature alone.

“Southern Pacific rattlesnakes will not chase you,” he said, adding that they are more likely to bite if people attempt to hurt or kill them.

If bitten, victims should remain calm and seek medical attention immediately. Cutting the wound, applying a tourniquet or ice and soaking the puncture in cold water are not recommended procedures, but cleaning the bite and trying to suck out the venom with a vacuum hose could be helpful, he said.

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FYI

For information on future snake education programs, call the Department of Animal Regulation at 388-4341, Ext. 8.