By Scott
Travis, Sun Sentinel, June 29, 2012
DAVIE – They came to Florida
Atlantic Univerisity to learn about wading birds, but on Thursday, they got a
lesson in slithering snakes.
About 17 environmental
science students, most of whom are studying avian ecology, were trained on how
to capture Burmese pythons, non-native snakes which have virtually wiped out
raccoons, marsh rabbits and other mammals in the southern region of Everglades
National Park.
PhD student Jennifer
Chastant, 31, who had never handled a snake before, volunteered to go first.
"The trainers said [the
snakes] were a little calm in the morning, so I decided I needed to take care
of this now," she said. "It's a little scary. It's a wild animal, and
you don't know what it's going to do."
Because many of the students
trek through the Everglades for research, it's not unusual for them to
encounter the non-venomous pythons, said Dale Gawlik, who heads FAU's
environmental science program in Davie.
"We want students to be
comfortable. We don't want them to panic and make bad decisions," he said.
"And it's a chance to do something good for the Everglades. It's a chance
to get some potentially dangerous, invasive species out of the ecosystem."
Trapped pythons are used for
research and training, including Thursday's event, which was sponsored by the
non-profit Nature Conservancy and several other agencies.
Jeffrey Fobb, who works for
the venom response unit of Miami Dade Fire Rescue, used a few basic tools in
his demonstration: a golf club-sized snake hook, a fabric bag and black
adhesive tape. He showed the students how to pin the snake so it was startled
and could be easily and gently grabbed.
"You don't' want to give
him the Kung Fu grip," he said. "You want to have your fingers right
up next to his jaws. The more force you use, the more resistance you're going
to get."
The students each were able
to secure a snake into a bag without any bites, although doctorate student
Jessica Klassen, 27, had a close call. As she removed her snake from a bag, the
animal turned its head several times as if to strike her.
"It was exhilarating,
but I just gave it some time to relax and calm down," she said. "It
all worked out in the end."
Wildlife officials believe
there are tens of thousands of Burmese pythons in South Florida, although exact
numbers are unknown. More than 1,800 have been captured over the 12 years.
The python course is not open
to the public. Anyone who wants to learn how to identify and report invasive
reptiles are encouraged to take a free, online reptile detection and
documentation class, available at ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu (select REDDy training).
If a python, Nile monitor,
tegu lizard or other invasive exotic animal is seen, people are encouraged to
stay at a safe distance, take a photo, and report it to 1-888-IVE-GOT-1, online
at http://www.IveGot1.org, or on the
IveGot1 mobile apps for the iPhone and Android.
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