Awesome Snake Science!: 40 Activities for Learning About Snakes

Awesome Snake Science!: 40 Activities for Learning About Snakes — page 3
Introduction number of years ago my uncle John Torline handed me a white flat box You're the one person I know who would appreciate this he said I found it in my cabin I opened the box lifted a layer of cotton batting and saw a partially decomposed partially mummified snake Some of the skeleton was visible as was the snake's final meal one mouse in the belly and one mouse just by its mouth I was delighted This gift may seem quite unusual but it was from an uncle who obviously understands and supports what I do I'm not surprised by his support When I was a child I would tiptoe to his aquarium to peer at the live rattlesnakes he had captured I don't remem ber them being very active but I could occasionally hear a soft buzz I didn't realize at the time how much this experi ence made an impression on me My early exposure to snakes undoubtedly helped me to feel more com fortable around and interested in them When I got my first real job as a seasonal keeper at a local zoo I sometimes fed watered cleaned up after and han dled the snakes I later worked in nature centers where snakes are often kept as educational