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monday, april 30, 2001
for comments, contact kristielliott at 864-4924 or features@kansan.com
8A
by ryan devlin kansan senior staff writer
pring has returned, and with it the birds, the flowers, sunshine, warm weather and Ophidiophobia.
Onhidionhobia?
It's the fear of snakes, and the mere appearance of one of our scaly, slithering brethren can cause a wave of panic, cold sweats and nausea in the Ophidiphobe. And though there are certainly more debilitating phobias one could possess, indicators point to Ophidiphobia being among the most common of all phobias.
Take for instance the fact that Linda Trueb, curator with the Division of Herpetology at the KU Natural History Museum, receives innumerable calls abo-
The black rat snake is commonly found in
commonly found in Douglas County. Though it can grow to be 6-feet long and can be intimidating in person, it is generally harmless
snakes every year.
Trueb estimates that the ratio of snake-calls to calls concerning other reptiles and amphibians is about five-to-one.
Usually, the calls come after the caller has found a snake in the home or yard.
"They want us to come out to their house and do something about the snakes," Trueb said. "We have to tell them that getting rid of them is
not our problem."
Trueb said snake-callers often were hysterical.
"They want to know if the snake is poisonous, or if it is going to kill their children," Trueb said. "Their imaginations tend to run a little on the wild side."
John Simmons, collection manager at the museum, said there was only a minimal risk of being bitten by a snake.
Despite the fact that evidence points to the risk of death by snake bite being nearly negligible, hysteria concerning snakes remains high.
"Unless you are intentionally handling the snake, the risk of being bitten is very low." Simmons said. The prospect of encountering and being bitten by a harmful snake is equally low.
According to statistics from the national Centers for Disease Control, 7,000 venomous snake bites are reported annually in the United States. Approximately 3,000 of those bites are classed as "illegitimate," meaning they occurred while the victim was handling or molesting the snake. And of the 7,000, only about 15 will prove fatal.
Simmons said he wasn't sure how many snake bites were reported annually in Kansas but was certain most did not result in fatalities.
Throughout our shared history on Earth, humans and snakes have had a precarious relationship. Myths and stories, from the
religious to the secuar, from the Bible to. B-movies, have highlighted and exaggerated the attributes of snakes and the dangers they present.
John Wade, psychologist at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said that fear of snakes ranks with fear of flying as one of the more common social phobias. Wade
said the fear usually stemmed from a combination of natural disposition and cultural stigmas.
Tips for keeping snakes away
away
Keep grass mowed short.
Eliminate vard cluster and places where snakes could potentially hide.
Trueb said the most common snakes found in or around one's home or apartment are the garter snake and the black rat snake. Both snakes, Trueb said, basically are harmless.
"It's a bit different than fear of other animals like grizzly bears, who can also kill you, in that we've been taught by our parents and others in our culture to associate snakes with evil and bad," Wade said.
"They're not going to attack you," Trueb said. "The worst that could happen would be if you picked one up, it might bite you and you could get an infection, but neither snake is venomous."
then it's natural to experience fear. But if you hear that one of your neighbors spotted a snake in the neighborhood and as a result you're afraid to go out in the yard for two weeks, then the fear may be problematic."
snake is venomous.
An adult black rat snake can grow to 5- to 6-feet long, making it a formidable-looking,
though harmless snake. The adult snake is usually black and has a pattern on its back.
Garter snakes, Trueb said, are usually much smaller. Typical garter snakes are 18- to 24 inches long and have striped backs.
- Make sure holes in the insulation and foundation are tightly sealed.
Wade said that though he thought the fear of snakes was to a degree a rational one, it could easily develop into an irrational one.
Source: John Simmons, KU Natural History Museum
"When it becomes a problem is when it begins to interfere with the person's life in some significant way." Rattlesnake said. "If you are confronted by a rattlesnake in the wild,
But venomous snakes can be found in this area. Copperheads and pygmy and
Tips for overcoming fear of snakes:
Learn about different snakes and their
yourself in situations with snakes, and imagine yourself in control
Visit a pet store or a zoo, and view the snakes in an attempt to
Visualize
build confidence
Source: John
Wade, psychologist
Watkins Memorial Health Center
timber rattlesnakes all carry venom and are native to Douglas County. Trueb said that venomous snakes tended to stay in forested areas but that copperheads occasionally may be found lingering around the home.
"If people have cluttered yards, they may have a problem with copperheads. Every
once in awhile, you'll hear stories about a copperhead nailing a pet or a gardener."
Although bites from copperheads are poisonous, Trueb said they generally were not life-threatening. Rattlesnake bites, on the other hand, are cause for concern.
"A bite from a rattler is serious business." Trueb said.
Simmons said the best thing to do if bitten by a snake of any kind is to seek immediate medical attention.
"If you're not sure if the snake is venomous, chances are you'll know by the time you get to the hospital."
Simmons said that traditional first-aid methods, such as sucking or cutting the bite or wrapping it with a tourniquet, did not help and in some cases actually could make things worse.
Trueb said that traditional methods of snake-proofing one's apartment or home also were unlikely to be effective.
"We have to tell people that the horse-hair rope and cans of 'Snake Away' don't really work." he said.
Trueb said there were more effective ways of snake-proofing but stressed that there were no guarantees.
"I usually send callers out to seal up any gaps in the foundation or in the insulation in the upper floors — anywhere where a snake can crawl in," Trueb said.
"If people want to get the copperheads to stay away, I tell them to clean up their yard," Trueb said. "If the snakes keep coming back, I try and convince them that the snakes are serving a purpose."
Simmons said snakes around the home usually were symptomatic of another problem.
"If snakes are around, it's usually because they're eating." Simmons said. "What are they eating? Ususually they're eating rodents."
Simmons suggested trapping rodents as a way of getting rid of the snakes.
Both Trueb and Simmons discouraged people from trying to kill the snakes.
"If you don't know what it is, leave it alone." Simmons said. "If you think the snake presents a danger to you and others around you, then get a bucket or a trash can, place it over the snake, put a brick over the top of it and call animal control or call us."
Trueb said that the best way to combat
snake-hysteria was to educate oneself about the different types of snakes and their characteristics. She said the Natural History Museum was a good place to start the education process.
"We will certainly help people identify snakes," Trueb said. "People can also come and see the live snake exhibit on the sixth-floor of the museum to try to identify them there and hopefully learn a little about the snakes in the process. It's a resource not many people realize is there."
Wade also said that education was a critical step in the process of overcoming any phobia. Treatment usually includes education and interaction with snakes, beginning with low-threat situations, such as getting a patient to view a nonpoisonous snake behind glass at a pet store. Once patients feel comfortable in low-threat situations, they graduate to more potentially frightening situations, such as being
The garter snake usually grows to a length of 18 to 24 inches. It is harmless and is easily identifiable by its striped pattern.
Trueb agreed that learning to coexist with snakes was crucial, but said trying to convince people to coexist with them can be a bit tough.
"One woman called awhile ago and was hysterical." Trueb said. "She kept removing the snakes from the premises, but they kept coming back. Coexistence was not an option for her. Finally, I suggested she get another house."
in the same room as a poisonous snake. The ultimate goal, Wade said, was fearfree, peaceful coexistence.
But, Trueb suggested, learning to exist peacefully with our fanged cohorts may be our only real option.
"Until we pave everything from here to Kansas City, the snakes are here to stay," Trueb said.
Copperheads are poisonous and usually grow to be about 3-feet long. They are distinguishable by their reddish or pinkish color and brown blotches.