OT: "NCWRC News Releases:" Snakes On A Plane

Margaret Campbell margaretc at gmail.com
Mon Aug 21 19:32:44 EDT 2006


Mildly misleading, though.  Copperheads do tend to be mean and grouchy.  The
others will escape if given the change; copperheads, if they think you are
in the space they want to be in, will threaten.  And yes, even strike.

Only one reported death, but a lot more people who suffered pain from their
bites.

On 8/21/06, Duncan Murrell <dvmurrell at nc.rr.com> wrote:
>
> The necessity of this press release, which I don't doubt, has left me
> feeling despondent. The ascendance of pop culture to omniculture, the
> ruin of irony and ironic gesture through repetition and the
> credulousness of spittle-sucking Americans. It all crashes together.
> I feel faint.
>
> d
>
> p.s. Or, maybe they're just having fun over there at the Wildlife
> Resources Commission's press office. This _is_ one of the most
> interesting press releases they've issued in awhile, a break from the
> monotony of mercury warnings, the occasional new green sunfish record
> (which has gone from half a pound to nearly two pounds in two years,
> since people realized there _was_ a green sunfish record), and
> announcements of wildlife officer promotions.
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> > From: "Bower, Michelle" <michelle.bower at ncwildlife.org>
> > Date: August 21, 2006 3:19:52 PM CDT
> > To: "Cantrell, Geoff" <geoff.cantrell at ncwildlife.org>
> > Subject: "NCWRC News Releases:" Snakes On A Plane
> >
> Media contact: Sarah Cross,
> >
> > Statewide Herpetologist
> >
> > (919) 218-1886
> >
> >
> > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> >
> >
> > "Snakes on a Plane" Is Movie Fun, Not Wildlife Reality
> >
> >
> > RALEIGH, N.C. (Aug. 21) - There's a lot of attention being paid to
> > snakes lately, thanks to a Hollywood thriller starring Samuel L.
> > Jackson.
> >
> >
> > The movie "Snakes on a Plane" and the phenomenon surrounding it
> > have inspired blogs, a book, songs and merchandise. State wildlife
> > officials hope it doesn't inspire any mistreatment of snakes.
> >
> >
> > "Most people won't confuse the entertainment value of the movie and
> > the reality of snake behavior," said Sarah Cross, the statewide
> > herpetologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
> > "However, there are a few people who consider snakes as threatening
> > creatures and they shouldn't. Snakes are a beneficial part of the
> > environment and they generally pose no danger unless they are
> > threatened."
> >
> >
> > In the movie, snakes are living weapons, wreaking havoc and mayhem
> > onboard an airline flight from Hawaii to Los Angles. It is an
> > exciting plot device.
> >
> >
> > "Actually, snakes are no more aggressive than squirrels or birds,"
> > Cross said. "A squirrel would probably bite you if you grabbed it.
> > A bird might dive bomb you if you approached its nest. The snake's
> > defensive mechanism is to first avoid detection and then retreat if
> > threatened. A snake bites only as a last resort."
> >
> >
> > The chances of being bitten by a snake in North Carolina are very
> > low, said Cross, who added that North Carolina has only six
> > venomous species: the copperhead, cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake,
> > eastern diamondback rattlesnake, pigmy rattlesnake and eastern
> > coral snake. Of these, only the copperhead is found statewide. The
> > coral snake and the rattlesnake species are found so rarely that
> > they are protected by law, she said.
> >
> >
> > The Wildlife Resources Commission, through its N.C. Wild Store,
> > sells "A Guide to the Snakes of North Carolina," a 42-page book
> > that features more than 150 color photographs and descriptions of
> > the 37 snake species found across the state. The book tells about
> > the important roles snakes play in ecosystems, presents maps that
> > detail the ranges of different species and gives information on
> > snake conservation efforts. For more information or to order a
> > copy, go online to www.ncwildlife.org.
> >
> >
> > -        30 -
> >
> >
> >
> > [MEDIA NOTE: A color, high-resolution photograph to illustrate this
> > release is available for free download at the N.C. Wildlife
> > Resources Commission Web site, www.ncwildlife.org.]
> >
> >
> > SNAKES SIDEBAR
> >
> >
> > SNAKES ARE BENEFICIAL
> >
> > Snakes have been called nature's most efficient mousetrap. Farmers
> > have long considered snakes as friends, since they are a deterrent
> > to rodents. Some species of non-venomous snakes eat venomous
> > species. Snake venom has been used to develop medicines that help
> > humans.
> >
> >
> > SOME SNAKES ARE PROTECTED BY LAW
> >
> > The diamondback rattlesnake and the eastern coral snake are
> > endangered species, while the timber rattlesnake, pigmy
> > rattlesnake, southern hognose snake, pine snake, Carolina water
> > snake and Outer Banks king snake are species of special concern.
> > Killing them is allowed only when they pose a clear and imminent
> > threat to health and safety.
> >
> >
> > SNAKES ARE WILDLIFE: DON'T TOUCH!
> >
> > There are six venomous, often called poisonous, snakes in North
> > Carolina. The most common is the copperhead, found throughout the
> > state except on the Outer Banks. Yet authenticated reports of
> > fatalities from snakebites are rare, with only one death in the
> > state being attributed to a copperhead bite, according to the N.C.
> > Museum of Natural Sciences.
> >
> >
> > -30 -
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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-- 
--Margaret Campbell


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