AWARE’S TAILS FROM THE WILD Snakes! Why Did It Have to be Snakes? By Lisa Powers This famous line from the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark reflects the sentiment of many folks in response to the mention of snakes. I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I have heard, ‘the only good snake is a dead snake.” But did you know that snakes are such a valuable part of our environment we would be hard pressed to live without them? In fact there are many people who now owe their life to a snake! What is venom? The American Heritage Dictionary of Science defines venom as, “a poisonous substance secreted by special glands of some snakes, spiders, scorpions, lizards, and similar animals, who inject it into their prey or enemy by biting or stinging.” In the scientific world, venom is injected, while poison is ingested. Therefore spiders and snakes are considered venomous rather than poisonous. Because of the many components of venom and the unique properties of each specific to the many different venomous species, researchers are studying the natural pharmacy of potential medicines that may be used in the near future to treat and even cure diseases. For instance, if you or a loved one have ever suffered a heart attack and have been treated with either of the drugs Eptifibatide or Tirofiban, then you owe many thanks to snakes. Eptifibatide is a drug that was developed from the venom of rattlesnakes and Tirofiban was developed from the venom of the African saw-scaled viper. Venom is a complex mixture of proteins and varies upon its makeup from different snake species. Those same proteins that make venom a deadly cocktail when injected by a snake, can be used by doctors in modified amounts to treat human disease. The two drugs mentioned above are used to halt heart attacks when given within the first three hours of symptoms. Ancrod was developed from the venom of the Malayan pit viper and has been used to
help prevent deadly stroke-causing clots during difficult surgeries. Contortrostatin, a protein found in the venom of the Southern copperhead, is sho wing m u c h promise in treating breast cancer, Southern Copperhead and the venom of the African black mamba is being studied for the treatment of Alzheimer’s. But snakes are important to us in other ways too. Do you like to eat? Of course you do, but what do snakes have to do with food? Snakes are the best form of rodent control and have the unique ability to go where the rodents can go. None of the traps mankind has invented, the cats we have spread around the world or even the birds of prey, can get to the rodents like snakes, or equal the number of rodents consumed by snakes. Even if you don’t like to eat your veggies, the meat animals you consume rely on the vegetation/grain produced on farms. Without snakes to control the rodent population, vegetation/grain production can greatly be impacted. Crop loss and ruination of stored grain by rodents and their feces and urine can range upwards to 100% on some farms during periods of rodent population explosions. Grow your own vegetables and fruits? Many of our smaller snakes feed on slugs, snails and other garden pests and they are non-toxic and do not cause cancer! Did you know that snakes could help protect your home from fire? It is estimated that about 20% of all house fires in (Continued on page 4)
Fall 2012 Inside this Issue Where There’s a “Will,” There’s a Way p. 5
In Each Issue Director’s Reflections from the Wild
p. 2
Wing Beat: Nightjars (Goatsuckers)
p. 3
Rehab 911! Eek! A Snake p. 5 Spotlight on Georgia’s Wildlife: Copperheads p. 6 Meet the Ambassador: Legs the Corn Snake
p. 6
Art for Armadillos Photos p. 7 AWARE’s Mission, Hours, Wish List & More p. 8 Senior Writer and Editor: Melanie Furr mefurr@bellsouth.net
www.AWAREwildlife.org
Tails from the Wild, Fall 2012
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Director’s Reflections from the Wild Board of Directors Kristi Warren President McKesson Lindsay Wallace Vice President Newfields Linda Potter Treasurer Retired Hallie Lieberman Secretary KMS Technology Alex Hoffman MCL Industries Kelly Jordan Point Center Corporation Melinda Matla KPMG Kim Mitchell Mitchell Consulting
I am constantly amazed by the hard work and dedication of the volunteers at AWARE. Our group of more than 60 volunteers commits an average of 350 hours per week and even more than that during the busiest times of the year. What is so unique Dr. Tarah Hadley about AWARE’s volunteers is that in their lives outside of the center they are students, artists, stay-at-home parents, business owners, employees of retail companies, or retirees of various careers and professions worked over a lifetime. A few work as nurses or veterinary technicians. Besides their hard work and dedication, I am also amazed by the creativity of the volunteers. Their creativity, along with the help and guidance of the staff, was a driving force for the success of AWARE’s first annual Art Auction and Wine Tasting event held on November 1st at The Sound Table in Atlanta. The art auction was one of AWARE’s very first public events that brought together members of the public along with volunteers, staff members, and AWARE’s board members.
The focus was a silent auction of numerous pieces of nature-themed art. The art was generously donated from members of the public as well as our volunteers to help raise money for AWARE. The auction also helped raise awareness of the center’s mission to rehabilitate Georgia’s native wildlife and to educate the public about wildlife issues. I also cannot forget the memorable contributions made by AWARE’s non-releasable ambassadors, including Owlbert Einstein the barred owl, Koko the red-tailed hawk, and Legs the corn snake. Their presence at the auction was an opportunity for us to further educate the public about what we do at AWARE, and they also contributed to the auction in their own way through pieces of art that they had created. AWARE volunteers contributed to this one event in so many ways: they helped create the works of art, solicited artwork from friends, created and distributed flyers about the event, found a venue for the auction, prepared hors d’oeuvres, played live music, photographed the event, provided event security, welcomed attendees, handled and cared for AWARE’s ambassador animals, helped the ambassador animals create artwork, donated their time to create jewelry and other wildlife pieces to sell at the event, and so much more. Please enjoy the pictures from the Art Auction, and I hope you understand the precious contribution made by AWARE’s volunteers and why they do what they do.
Management Team Dr. Tarah Hadley, DVM Director Linda Potter Assistant Director Marjan Ghadrdan Wildlife Care Supervisor Tammi Scarbro Wildlife Care Supervisor
Turn to page seven for more Art for Armadillos photos.
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Wing Beat Enjoying Georgia’s Birds The Nightjars (Goatsuckers) The nightjars are an interesting family of birds. The Latin name for these birds translates as “goatsuckers” -- a name they received centuries ago, probably from goat herders who saw these birds flying low over their fields at night and believed that they were coming to feed on the milk of their goats. (Instead these birds were drawn to the insects that the livestock attracted). Sixty-seven species of nightjars are found throughout most parts of the world, four species in the United States -Whip-poor-wills, Chuck-will’s-widows, Common Poor-wills and Common Nighthawks. These four species nest in the United States during the summer months but migrate to Central or South America for the winter. Whip-poor-wills, Chuckwill’s-widows, and Common Nighthawks can all be found in Georgia during the warmer months. As their name suggests, nightjars are nocturnal, flying around catching insects in the dark with their large, bristlelined mouths. Although they have a very short beak, they have a huge, gaping mouth that can open as wide as two inches, both vertically and horizontally — great for scooping up insects in flight. The bristles on the sides of their mouths may help to funnel food into their mouths and/or to protect their eyes. Nightjar feathers are mottled with browns, grays, blacks and tans so that they are extremely well camouflaged on the forest floor. During the daytime, they rest on leaves on the ground or lengthwise on horizontal branches — unlike songbirds that perch perpendicular to the branches. They blend in with the leaf litter so well that birders rarely see them during the day and even then only in the early morning or evening when they begin flying around to feed. They are sometimes spotted lying on the road at night when their bright orange eye-shine gives them away in the headlights. Brooding is done on the ground without any kind of preparation -- just a leafy area that has a slight depression where the eggs can be kept together and the female can keep them warm. The eggs are white, but have mottled spots to make them practically invisible on the leaves. The young are born with most of
their feathers, which are essential for camouflage on the forest floor. People are probably most familiar with the Whip-poor-will, a bird that often calls its name loudly and incessantly during the night. One birder counted 834 consecutive calls without interruption at 2.5 second intervals during one night. That can be pretty annoying if you are trying to sleep and one is calling nearby! The Chuck-Will’sWidow, also named for its call, is the largest of the nightjars, measuring about 1113 inches in length. Although it primarily eats insects, it may occasionally eat small birds or bats, swalhttp://commons.wikimedia.org lowing them whole. The Common Like all nightjars, this chuck-will’s-widow blends in perfectly with its surroundings. Poor-will, a western U. S. species, is the only bird in the world that actually hibernates. When the open, arid deserts where it lives have a cold spell that kills the insects, this species can lower its body temperature to its surroundings and remain dormant until better weather prevails. (Other bird species, including some hummingbirds, can go into torpor, a condition in which they reduce their body temperature by a few degrees, but only the poor-will can lower its temperature down to the surrounding environment’s temperature). Finally, Common Nighthawks, which are not related to hawks at all, can frequently be seen around our brightly lit signs, roadways and stadiums during the warmer months. Look for them around the bright signs at the Atlanta Braves games or in brightly lit parking lots. They are easily distinguished by a wide white stripe running across each wing about halfway out from their bodies. By Jim Wilson
Did you know... When a predator gets too close to their offspring, nightjars often feign injury, dragging a wing on the ground and luring the predator away. AWARE recently rehabilitated a chuckwill’s-widow. Read about this unique patient on page five.
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Snakes! Why Did It Have to be Snakes? (continued from page one) the U.S. of unknown origin can be attributed to damage caused by rodents chewing on wiring and other electrical components. Because of their constant need to gnaw to keep their teeth in check, rodents may also cause structural and other damage to your home or property. And let’s face it, if a poison is toxic enough to kill a small mammal, is that really something you want to ever have near your children and family pets? A snake can do a much better job at rodent control! What about disease? Hanta virus occurs naturally throughout most of North and South America; it is airborne, and in the absence of prompt medical attention, its infections are usually fatal. The main hosts for the hanta virus are rodents. Rodents carry many other diseases that can be transmitted to humans (zoonoses), among them: Rabies, Plague, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), Leptospirosis (Weil’s syndrome), Salmonellosis, Tuberculosis and many of the tickbourn diseases like Lyme’s Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Do you like to hunt or fish? Snakes affect the quality and numbers of game animals available. They help to prevent diseases in these animals and promote stronger stock by weeding out weak, diseased or old members. They can also affect the food available for game animals to eat. Large timber rattlesnakes show a food preference for squirrels. In preparation for winter, squirrels collect and bury nuts, seeds and acorns in underground stashes. Other animals like deer and turkey are then deprived of these foods except for the occasional accidental uncovering of a poorly buried shallow stash. Nature is a system of checks and balances. If you remove one component from an ecosystem, the balance shifts in favor of another. And while humans like to think we have control over life, when we tinker with these systems we start a cascade of events the consequences of which we may not even realize for months, years, decades or even generations. In the United States, it is easy to learn the venomous snakes from the nonvenomous and how to take measures to reduce or even prevent human-snake encounters. There is NEVER a good reason to kill a snake in any of our protected parks and natural habitats….or to harm those we encounter in our yards or homes unless they are presenting an imminent threat. If the snake is outside and you keep your yard free of debris and well-maintained, the snake has no reason to stay and will have moved on in an hour or so. If the snake is indoors and you know it is a harmless species, you may use a broom and dust pan to gently urge the snake into a trash can or other lidded container, place the lid on the container and then safely carry the snake to the outdoors and release it. If it is a venomous snake in your house, remove pets and people, try to secure the room the snake is in and call a professional. Do not try to capture or kill the snake…this is how bites occur and can sometimes prove a deadly mistake. Remember, snakes do a valuable service in the environment and the costs of killing them far outweigh the costs of protect-
ing them and the benefits living with them provide in the long run. So in answer to the question posed in the title of this blog, I know why it has to be snakes and I feel very fortunate to share my world with them.
If you are fortunate enough to find a Dekay’s brownsnake in your yard, you won’t be as troubled by slugs, snails and other pests eating your veggies and decorative plants!
As its name suggests, the gray rat snake preys on rats, other rodents, and the occasional bird and/or eggs.
Like most snakes, the timber rattlesnake is a shy species that rarely strikes unless confronted or disturbed and its venom has been used to develop life-saving drugs for heart patients; who knows what other cures and treatments may be teased from this majestic beauty? Lisa Powers, a herpetologist and Project Noah Ranger, researched and wrote the blog post you just read for the Center for Snake Conservation and Project Noah Snake Week. AWARE thanks Lisa for letting us share this interesting and informative article with our readers. To learn more about the Center for Snake Conservation please visit CSC . Project Noah is an online database for sharing photographs and information of organisms found throughout the World. This database will provide a valuable resource to educators, naturalist, biologists, ecologists, herpetologists, etc. for wildlife education and awareness. If you are interested, login to their page and begin posting your photos.
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Where There’s a “Will,” There’s a Way Late this summer, an injured chuck-will’s-widow came into AWARE’s care after it was found on the ground in a Home Depot parking lot. Because these birds frequently feed on the swarms of insects drawn to brightly lit areas like parking lots, this bird had probably collided with a car, breaking a shoulder bone. Chuck-will’s-widows aren’t brought into AWARE often, but when they are, they require very specialized care. Since chuck-will’s-widows and other nightjars only feed in flight (having beaks too fragile for pecking on the ground), they will not self-feed in captivity and must be hand-fed. AWARE’s rehabilitators tube-fed their patient with a special insectivore formula, being careful not to damage the fragile bristles along the bird’s mouth or its sensitive throat. The bird was weighed daily to ensure that it was maintaining its weight, and because its feathers are extremely delicate, it was only handled using a clean, silk pillowcase. After a few weeks of cage rest, the bird’s injury was healed, and it was then transferred to wildlife rehabilitator Melanie
Haire, who provided expert care and a flight cage for the bird until it was ready for release. (Nightjars need lots of room to exercise their wings, and AWARE’s flight cages were occupied by other patients). Happily, this special patient recovered and was released in time to continue its migration to Central or South America where it will spend the winter until it returns to its nesting grounds next spring.
Jim Wilson Chuck-will’s-widow at AWARE — almost ready for release. Unlike other songbirds, nightjars typically perch horizontally.
Rehab 911! AWARE Rehabilitators Provide Answers to Common Calls about Wildlife If you discover a snake in your house, main calm (remember, EEK! I saw a snake in my yard (on my driveway, under my porch, in my basement, etc.). Will it hurt me? How the majority are not dangerous) and try to avoid disturbing the snake and driving it into hiding. Try to confine the snake to one can I get rid of it? AWARE receives hundreds of calls every year from people who are afraid because they have seen a snake near their home. The first thing we try to do for these callers is to reassure them that the majority of Georgia’s snakes are harmless and that even bites from the venomous species are rarely fatal. Except for the state’s four venomous species, snakes don’t pose a threat to humans or pets, which is a good thing since all non-venomous species are protected in Georgia. Outdoor encounters with non-venomous snakes, even in your yard, should be resolved by letting the animal go its own way, most likely never to be seen again. Snakes are naturally reclusive and will flee from humans if possible. Most bites occur when someone is attempting to capture or kill one. Furthermore, because any given area is able to support a fixed number of snakes, killing one snake simply leaves a food supply available for another snake to claim, perhaps a venomous one instead. To force a snake to leave your yard, you can spray it with a garden hose, but modifying the habitat in your yard may be necessary to prevent the snake from returning. To reduce the chance of a snake moving into your yard, remove potential hiding places for both snakes and their prey: piles of rocks, wood, or other debris; tall grass and undergrowth; cracks in concrete porches and sidewalks; and sheds, staircases, or other structures with space under the floor. Pet food or household garbage left outside overnight, which attracts rodents, can attract snakes as well. If you encounter a venomous snake in your yard, take it seriously. Your local animal control may be able to assist you with its removal, or AWARE can refer you to a professional service. Do not handle venomous snakes without professional training.
room or corner with barriers or boxes. If the snake is nonvenomous, open a door and gently herd the snake out with a broom, if possible. Alternatively, place a pail or wastebasket over the snake and weight it down to trap the snake until an experienced handler can remove it. If the snake has gone into hiding, a heating pad or pile of burlap or other cloth in a dark corner may attract the unwanted guest since snakes are drawn to darkness and warmth. Once the snake has been captured, snakeproofing (and rodent-proofing) the home by sealing all holes and cracks is important to prevent reentry. Bear in mind that some snakes can fit through even the tiniest holes or cracks, and although most snakes enter at ground level, some snakes are good climbers and may climb trees or chimneys to enter. Remember, snakes play a major role in the ecosystem -- both as predator and as prey -- and they provide an economic benefit to humans by eating rodents and other pests that can damage crops and spread disease. Sadly, many species are in decline as a result of human activities. At AWARE, we hope to teach people to appreciate and conserve these amazing wild animals and this important natural resource. More good information about Georgia’s snakes can be found on the Department of Natural Resources website and at Snakes of Georgia and South Carolina. **Note: If you are bitten by a venomous snake, get to a hospital as soon as possible. Attempt to identify the species of snake if you are able (but do not delay getting to the hospital), and mark the time to track the progression of symptoms. Doctors do not advise administering first aid as it can do more harm than good.
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Spotlight on Georgia’s Wildlife Copperheads Sometimes called the Highland Moccasin, Copperheads belong to the family of snakes commonly known as pit vipers. Pit vipers share a common characteristic - a deep pit between the eye and nostril on each side of the head that opens to a pair of heat-sensing organs, an extremely sharp sixth sense that helps them detect heat http://commons.wikimedia.org from predators or potential prey. One of four venomous species in Georgia, the Copperhead lives primarily in wooded and rocky places, often near water sources. Copperheads also inhabit river edges and swamps. They prefer habitats with abundant leaf litter, logs, and rocks for cover and typically stay away from open areas. Named for their solid copper-colored heads, Copperheads are usually brown or gray, but individuals vary from pinkish to rusty-orange to almost black. Thick, medium-sized snakes, they are easily recognized by the dark brown hourglass or saddleshaped bands down the length of their bodies that are wider at the sides and narrower along the center of the back. These markings provide excellent camouflage for copperheads among piles of dead leaves. Copperheads range in size from 22-53 inches, but most are less than three feet. Many harmless species in Georgia are confused with the Copperhead, but no other species in our region has the Copperhead’s distinctive hourglass-shaped bands. Other species have circular or square blotches or blotches that are widest down the center of the back rather than sides. Regardless of whether a snake is venomous or not, leaving it alone is usually the best thing to do. Like all reptiles, Copperheads are cold-blooded and must warm themselves in order to become active. In spring and fall, they are active during the day and are sometimes seen basking on rocks and along roadways, but as the weather gets hotter,
they become more nocturnal. In winter, Copperheads return to their den sites to hibernate, often in large groups of snakes that may include other species as well. Copperheads usually breed in spring, and females give live birth to a typical litter of seven to ten young probably every other year or less frequently. Resembling their parents except lighter in color, the young are on their own and ready to hunt at birth. In addition to lighter coloration, young Copperheads have a yellow-tipped tail that they wiggle like a worm to attract prey such as frogs and lizards. Copperheads are opportunistic feeders. Typical prey consists of small rodents, frogs, lizards, birds, and large insects. They ambush their prey, striking at it and injecting it with venom, then wait for it to die before consuming it head-first. While they usually feed on the ground, Copperheads have been known to climb trees, particularly to gorge on emerging cicadas. Copperheads do not like to fight — they avoid humans and flee if possible. If approached too closely, they shake their tails back and forth across the leaves, imitating the sound of a rattlesnake to give warning. Unlike other snakes that slither aware when startled, however, Copperheads "freeze", relying on their camouflage as their defense instead. They often stay still even when approached at close range, striking only if physical contact is made. As a result, bites sometimes occur from people unknowingly stepping on them. Fortunately, a Copperhead bite is http://commons.wikimedia.org rarely fatal. Copperheads do not see humans as prey, so the bite they inflict is often a “warning” containing little or no venom. However, a bite from any venomous snake should be taken very seriously. Seek immediate medical attention. Do not administer first aid as it may do more harm than good.
Meet the Ambassador: Legs the Corn Snake
“Legs” came to AWARE over three years ago. Purchased as a pet in another state, she was surrendered to AWARE by her owner when he realized that our state’s laws prohibit keeping any native wildlife as a pet. AWARE was lucky indeed to have Legs become one of our wildlife ambassadors, for she has taught innumerable people that snakes are a vital — and, if left alone, harmless — natural resource. Whenever Legs attends programs and festivals, she is a hit with the crowd, who are excited to see a snake up-close and ask questions. People often ask how corn snakes derived their name. One theory suggests these snakes are named for the checkered pattern found on the their belly that resembles Native American maize, a colorful predecessor to modern corn. Another theory suggests the name was given because these snakes are frequently found near corn cribs hunting rodents that the corn attracts. Indeed, corn snakes play an important role in their ecosystems by keeping rodent and other pest
populations in check. People are also curious about Legs’ diet. Legs is fed a variety of dead prey that meet her nutritional needs, but in the wild, these constrictors kill their prey (small rodents, lizards, frogs, birds, other snakes, etc.) by squeezing it until it suffocates. Also known as red rat snakes, most corn snakes have a rusty coloring in the wild, but bred as pets in some places, they come in many colors and patterns ranging from bright yellows and oranges to dark browns and black. Of course, our lovely Legs wears her own unique colors. Legs loves to be taken outdoors to bask in the sunshine on warm days. On cool days, she’ll try to wriggle inside her handler’s shirt to stay warm. Luckily, Legs is extremely gentle and easygoing and has never bitten or hurt her handlers. In fact, she is so docile that she is one of the first ambassadors that volunteers are taught to handle as they progress in their training. AWARE is fortunate to have an ambassador that represents her species so well!
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Art for Armadillos & bats, beavers, bobcats, chipmunks, cottontails, coyotes, foxes, mice, opossums, otters, etc...
Photos: Alex Johnson
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Preserving Georgia’s Wildlife through Rehabilitation and Education 4158 Klondike Road, Lithonia, GA 30038 (678) 418-1111 www.AWAREwildlife.org
Tours given Saturdays and Sundays at 1 P.M. Donations gladly accepted
—————————————— Book an educational program and meet our ambassador animals up close!
AWARE’s Wish List
Home Depot and Wal-Mart gift cards Towels and linens (no holes or loose threads) Sticky notes, fine-tipped permanent markers Applesauce, mixed fruit baby food Pecan halves or miscellaneous whole nuts Unscented HE laundry detergent and bleach Purina Dog Chow Complete, Friskies Grillers Blend Cat Chow, or Friskies Classic Pate
AWARE is a volunteer-based organization working to preserve wildlife through rehabilitation and education. We believe that peaceful coexistence of humans and wildlife is essential for our mutual survival. AWARE rescues and rehabilitates about 1,600 wild animals each year and returns most of them to the wild. In addition, our licensed rehabilitators answer approximately 10,000 phone calls each year from people with wildlife concerns, providing AWARE with opportunities to help people better understand, appreciate, and coexist with wildlife. Our educational outreach programs, which feature our non-releasable ambassador animals, include school programs, festivals, fairs, nature centers, community events, scout meetings, and anywhere there is an audience interested in wildlife. Our non-releasable ambassador animals (a bobcat, four owls, two hawks, a snake, an opossum, a skunk, and a crow) provide a face to our lessons on how to peacefully coexist with wild animals. AWARE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that relies on private contributions of time and money. AWARE receives no government assistance.
Your donations make our work possible.
At Thanksgiving and throughout the year, AWARE is thankful for our many friends and supporters.