Mahanoy Area elementary students treated to live reptile presentation - Yahoo News

Mar. 23—MAHANOY CITY — Fifth graders at Mahanoy Area Elementary School got to see several reptiles in person Thursday during a special presentation in the auditorium.

Jeannie Carl, a naturalist at Carbon County Environmental Education Center, presented a live reptile show, consisting of three snakes and a turtle, for the school's 86 fifth grade students.

As the reptiles were shown to different sections of the audience, Carl fielded questions pertaining to the creatures' physical attributes, lifestyle and eating habits.

The program was sponsored by the Schuylkill County Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that works to protect and enhance the quality of life in Schuylkill County by preserving open lands, forests, wetlands, streams and other natural resources.

The first creature shown was a 52-year-old box turtle from Jim Thorpe.

Carl said the turtle, which lives in the environmental center, is outgoing and receptive toward people, in contrast to wild box turtles, which typically retreat into their shells if they come into contact with humans.

She also told students that if they see a box turtle crossing the road, they should leave it alone rather than move it in the opposite direction.

"Don't pull a turtle in the direction it's not going in," Carl said. "Keep it going in the direction it's going."

Carl said the box turtle is an endangered species that could become extinct in the next 40 years.

Sue Reier, a naturalist and youth educator with the Conservancy, opened the snake segment of the presentation by showing a corn snake named Rosie.

The snake, also known as a red rat snake, often kills its prey by wrapping its body around the creature, squeezing it and depriving it of oxygen.

"She's a constrictor — strong muscles for squeezing the prey almost to death," Carl said.

The next serpent on the lineup was a western milk snake.

Carl explained that this species of snake is poisonous, although not venomous, as its poison affects humans "only if you were to eat them."

"The only way she could hurt you is if we'd be the ones to consume her skin and her flesh," Carl said.

The third and final snake of the presentation was a California kingsnake, another poisonous species with prominent stripes.

Carl said the snake uses camouflage to blend into its surroundings and is capable of killing many types of venomous snakes.

The snake's name is San Andreas, after the San Andreas Fault in California.

Following the presentation, the students had the opportunity to touch one of the snakes on their way out of the auditorium.

Also on hand for the event were Julia Sophy, Conservancy president, and Frank Snyder, a retired forester and Conservancy board member.

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085