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Posted by Fred A. on October 26, 1999 at 12:44:30:
In Reply to: Re: I do educational prorams.................... posted by Sherry on October 25, 1999 at 18:27:34:
: : :Fred,
: When the zoo I am with takes animals out on programs, we never allow anyone except staff and trained volunteers to touch any of the animals. I wish we could use precautions like you discribe and allow some gentle touching by the students and teachers. Ah well, we live in the age of lawsuits. You mentioned protecting the snake from summer heat. I guess it doesn't get very cold in San Diego. Does your Indigo eat and stay active all year long? Are you able to take it out on programs every month of the year?
: Sherry
: : Sherry;
: : I do educational programs to public and private schools in San Diego, Ca. I always bring my Indigos, and when I have produced young from them, I bring the neonates also. The response to these snakes is surreal, and even if the children forget the other herps that they have seen,trust me they will remember the Indigo. I generally have them clean their hands THOUGHROUGHLY before they handle the Eastern Indigos, and the Indigos are always the first ones handled, all other snakes are handled AFTER the Indigos. This to prevent any possible transmision of anything between these snakes. I am very carefull to take huge safeguards when I transport them on hot days, i.e. Ice Cooler loaded with ice, etc. One of the things that I try to impress up[om the children is the bio-diversity of the area that the Indigos live in, the Rattlesnakes that exist there , thew mule deer,, the gopher tortise. This way the studens derive an overall understanding of the complex and delicate web that unites these creatures and how we impact it as predators/builders. I think you'll do just fine, and realizze that if only one child is truly affected by your efforts, than he/she could make a huge difference in the conservation of our wildlife and vanishing species. Congratulation on getting involved!!!!1
: : Fred A.
Sherry,
I too used to work for theSan Diego Zoo in the capacity of keeper in the bird dept., many years ago... Yes liability and lawsuits have really changed peoples trust and everyone has to take precautions. To answer your questions, I typically do presentation with my Indigos in the summer months, as dureing the winter months they are busy(hopefully!) breeding and producing more of these awesome snakes. I ususally use males for presentations primarily because I try to disturb the females as little as possible. I have no doubt that I could take him out every month of the year, if it were not for the breeding cycle. However it seems that to much interaction can stress them out. I feed both males and females all year long, however my adult males go off food inOct-Nov., they just want to mate, not eat. Hope I have answered your questions well.
Fred A.
