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WV-The Timber Rattler was the Perfect Choice
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by tigers9 on April 26, 2008
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If you read the Arlington co, VA possible snake/exotic ban, one article mentions that VA and WV might look at working on laws together, but WV just decided timber was their official snake and their governor signed bill while having live rattler next to him, see pic on link
http://www.wvmetronews.com/outdoors.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=24290
Who owns the snake in terrarium? Use this as opportunity to show there are good owners there, governor survived, and no need to ban these snakes because few owners are idiots, just enact better laws and enforcement on any animal at large (dog, snakes, cats...)
I am willing to work on this to hopefully prevent another exotic ban, but more owners, especially venomous, need to join and help on educating the commissioenrs.
Z
http://www.wvmetronews.com/outdoors.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=24290
04/04/2008
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The Timber Rattler was the Perfect Choice
Chris Lawrence
Charleston
Governor Joe Manchin declares the timber rattler the state's official reptile
I'd be lying if I reported there weren't a few references to Jolo and sermons when Governor Manchin signed the bill this week in Charleston declaring the timber rattlesnake the official Reptile of West Virginia.
The DNR's Jim Freganaro graciously provided a prop for the occasion. The snake sat beside the governor's podium in an aquarium filled with wood chips and appeared to be the least interested one in the room about the goings on. It would have been appropriate if he would have struck up a rattle as the governor spoke, but the snake behaved and just lay there for the duration of the photo op.
Others, including the governor, were less accepting of the reptile's presence, despite his being the main topic of discussion.
"Whose snake is this?" The governor jokingly inquired after addressing the crowd.
I thought I had a pretty clever answer when I told him it belonged to the people of West Virginia--after all that IS the owner of all fish and wildlife in the state. Fregonaro quickly agreed with me and said it belonged to everybody in the room. I'm not sure the governor understood what we meant, but whatever.
I'm often fascinated by the reactions a snake will bring out of people. I've seen people pick up snakes and examine them inches from their face. I also once witnessed a woman dislocate her shoulder trying to hit a snake with a shovel.
I am one of those rare breeds I suppose that falls somewhere in between hate and love when it comes to my level of serpent tolerance.
I'm a recovering snake-a-phobe. I credit Frank Jernejcic of the DNR for helping in my 12-step program. Like many of you, I was raised with the attitude, "the only good snake is a dead snake."
However, I realized as I aged that all God's creatures--including a slithering viper--were put here for a reason and killing them wholesale for no clear reason is going to do more harm than good. I'll still kill a snake. A four-foot copper head fell to a hoe a few years back in our neighborhood. However, that's one that just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. There were no fewer than 10 children playing in the exact spot where he was found. I couldn't have that. However, if I encountered the same snake in the middle of a field or on a set of rocks while hiking, I would have afforded him a generous helping of respect, walked ten feet around him, and we would have parted company in amicable fashion.
A little education helps to temper hysteria. A snake can only strike half-the length of its body. Therefore, two feet away from a three-foot snake is still a safe distance. I still choose to keep a wider berth, but realize there's no use to reroute my trip to the next county. Another documented fact is fewer than a dozen people have died from a snakebite in West Virginia in the past 40-years. Four of those who met an unfortunate venom induced demise were in church. Jernejcic is fond of pointing out more people were killed by dogs in that time than snakes--and people let their children sleep with dogs.
Snakes are predators for rats and other undesirables. They are also non-aggressive. They'll usually leave you alone as long as you do the same.
The timber rattlesnake was selected for the state reptile designation by a group of Hampshire County Middle School students. Their teacher tells me he would have picked the box turtle. However, the rattler isn't a bad choice. Aside from the obligatory snake-handling church jokes it might generate, the timber rattler is a lot like a true West Virginian.
The timber rattler is generally not aggressive, but when you mess with one--be ready for a fight. The rattler lives its life in rugged confines and is an apt mountain survivor. The rattler is often reviled and misunderstood, but always commands respect.
It's the best reptile example I can name that sums up the true spirit of a Mountaineer.
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