Ever Heard of the Heard Museum?
Ever Heard of the Heard Museum?
Article and photographs by Jennifer Weisensel*
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In May 2008, our volunteers were given a behind-the-scenes view of the reptile exhibit at the Heard Museum in McKinney, Texas.
For some of the volunteers, having the reptiles in containment was a godsend. However, for those that love our scaly, slithery friends, they just couldn't get close enough.
As volunteers on the hotline, we assist the public with all types of creatures in the Dallas/Fort Worth and surrounding areas. For some of us, we have just as many encounters with the creatures in our own backyards as our callers. Being trained in all aspects of wildlife that can "pop" up at any moment in any area, means that we have to be prepared to assist the public with calls regarding reptiles, both those that are harmless and those that perhaps you might want to avoid.
The Heard Museum is a great place for kids of all ages to educate themselves on the venomous and non-venomous snakes of Texas. While at the Heard, the DFW Wildlife Coalition's volunteers were provided with a ton of information about the four venomous snakes in our area: the Cottonmouth (or Water Moccasin), the different species of Rattlesnakes, the Copperhead, and the Coral snake.
Armed with our trusty staff member, Roger, we all entered the exhibit, eager to see the most well known creature without arms or legs.
I've personally had the pleasure of listening to one of Roger's presentations prior to this field trip, and I was interested in hearing more information regarding one of my favorite animals. I had to remember that I wasn't at the Heard just to look and take pictures, I was at the Heard to obtain information about how to help a caller handle an encounter with our legless neighbors.
Our fearless leader, Prudi, asked one of the most valuable questions while in attendance at the museum. Prudi lives in an area that is a haven for creatures of all sizes, and being outside means coming in contact with these creatures. "How can I tell if a snake in my backyard is venomous or non-venomous," she asked. "I have one type of snake that kind of looks like that," she added, while pointing to a dark snake in a cage of the exhibit. "Is there any way that I can tell if it's a harmless water snake, or if it's the Water Moccasin?"
"Well sure," Roger responds. "See those lines on the water snake? See how they line up? The lines on the Water Moccasin don't line up. They have a sort of, black mask, and their scales are outlined, but they don't go straight up and down like the water snake."
The whole crew of volunteers leans in towards the two cages and looks intently at the differences. As we are all in awe of the similarity, one harmless, one not so much, it occurs to Prudi, "well, how close do you have to get to identify that?"
"Pretty close," Roger says with a laugh. "I suggest you don't get that close. Just assume you should avoid it."
Now true, I paraphrased the above interchange, but for the most part, the difference, when viewed up close, definitely allows you to identify which snake is of the avoidable kind. As the pictures show below, the lines Roger was speaking of are highly visible when within a few feet. If you ever come face to face with one of the two below, remember that if you're unsure if the lines really meet, slowly back away and leave it alone. In most cases, the snake doesn't want to be your friend anyway. But don't take it personally.
The Heard Museum is located at 1 Nature Place, McKinney, Texas 75069, and is open Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday, 1 pm to 5 pm. Visit them online at www.heardmuseum.org for more information and how to get involved.
*All pictures on this page were taken by the author at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary and cannot be reprinted, altered, or distributed without permission.