A LESSON FROM SNAKES BY MR. TURGEON
Those who know a bit about me know that I love animals. Just about any resident or staff member within this facility knows that snakes are of a special concern to me. Venomous and non-venomous alike, I love snakes. So, as you read on, please sincerely contemplate what is being presented to you. Nobody ever wants to be prejudged, condemned, or discriminated against and no one should be. Just as well, those with a criminal record or a history of arrest or incarceration hope society can look past their past wrongs and see the individual for where, and whom he is now. He does not want to wear a negative label for the rest of his life. He wishes a level of forgiveness, patience and a fair chance of blending in as a fellow citizen and to not be ostracized from neighborhoods as some sort of unwelcomed menace.
Now, in understanding the previous paragraph, consider snakes. They are born and have no say in the matter. This animal only wishes to live his/her life as safe, happy long, and healthy as possible. So far, sounds just like any of us humans, right? They have a history, a negative label heaped upon them by most of mankind, yet they only want to live. Harmless, venomous, or a large constrictor, these poor critters have no say in the outcome. They are just born the way they are.
They’d rather have no encounters with humans, but humans continue to cut out so much of nature’s available living space for snakes, which ultimately causes more encounters with humans. Many, if not most, are killed, injured or stressed-out through being tormented and harassed. Many times, others are killed by accidental encounters with humans: by cars running them over, lawnmowers cutting them up, dens being destroyed in land development., etc.
Now consider again, how no man wants to be hated, abused and ostracized for no reason when he has currently done no wrong. Also, consider how the United States averages only about ten human deaths per year from envenom snake bites. With that, realize that most envenomed snake bites to humans are the result of people either trying to kill or harass the snake. The other victims of venomous snake bite are usually resulting from accidental encounters such as stepping on or unknowingly by placing hands or fingers in front of snakes. Snakes venoms’ main functions is not to be a weapon against humans. Snakes would rather be left alone, to just live and od their own thing. Venom is used to incapacitate prey and digest it Venom is basically complex saliva that serves as a powerful pre-digestant to assist snakes in digesting the large prey they must consume by swallowing it whole, Venom is used as a weapon only when escape fails and the treat persist (self-defense of the snake).
All this said, the point is, should why these animals be killed, hated, abused, harassed, and discriminated against just because they are snakes? If no man wants to be labeled and hated just for trying to live, why should these critters have to endure these hardships? If the average of 10 annual U.S. deaths from snake’s bites is to be used against snakes in justification for the abuse snakes suffer from humans, what do humans deserve for all the death and description they cause? They sure kill alot more than 10 of any living thing per year in the U.S.
So please have some compassion on these innocent animals and let them live, since this is all they want to do. If they scare you, leave them alone and allow them to go on their way since that is all they truly want to do. Most snake encounters end quickly because when snakes see other living things, especially the size of humans, they rapidly vacate the area on their own if allowed to.
-JUSTIN- Damn my hands were killing me after writing this blog. LOL