Snakes Visit the Community Center

In a new program at Sunset Hills Community Center, students met with reptiles Tuesday under the supervision of Missouri's Conservation Department. 

Cold-blooded creatures like lizards, turtles and snakes were stars of the show. Folks seemed the most eager to examine snakes.

"Three words," said teacher Terri Eggers. "If you see a snake. Leave it alone."

It is against the law in Missouri to kill snakes unless they pose an immediate threat, she said. She suggested stomping your feet and backing away if it appears poisonous.

Eggers revealed other new information to school-age kids and parents gathered after school for the free programs.

Eggers said Missouri has 50 kinds of snakes but only five kinds are poisonous. She called the dangerous snakes "venomous" because that is the accurate description of how a snake bites with two fangs and injects venom through the hollow fangs into the victim.

Only two venomous snakes are typically found in this area, Eggers said, the Copperhead and Timber Rattlesnake.

Dangerous snakes tend to have triangle-shapped heads, slits for eyes and one row of scales on the tails.

Non-venomous snakes would tend to have heads shaped more like a spoon, round eyes and two rows of scales on tails.

Eggers pointed out that snakes can't hear, but instead sense vibration through their jaws against the ground. Therefore, stomp your feet to let snakes know of your presence as you walk through wooded and rocky areas when snakes dangerous are expected to be around, Eggers said.

"Conservation means smart use," Eggers said, particularly of natural resources.

As Spring and Summer weather approach, the conservation sessions will include outdoor activities, city officials said.