The Great Snake Hunt with Herpetologist Matthew Benedict
Waterfront Partnership’s third Wildlife Workshop at Rash Field focused on why snakes are more friendly than fearsome!
Herpetology is a branch of zoology focused on studying amphibians—including frogs, toads, and salamanders—and reptiles, including lizards, turtles, and snakes! Mathew Benedict, a herpetologist with the National Aquarium, led more than 40 workshop attendees through fascinating facts, behaviors, and the life of snakes.
We met at Rash Field Park Meadow, a native perennial garden designed to mimic nature. This garden provides the perfect habitat for these wildlife creatures and includes a newly built habitat feature just for these slithering squamates: a Snake Door. A Snake door can be made from a sheet of plywood or corrugated steel, providing a snake with a place to hide, feed, and be warm. When we opened the door, we found crickets and other insects that would be the perfect snake snack.
Maryland has 27 varieties of native snakes, only 2 of which are venomous. Fun fact: Venom from this cold-blooded, rodent-eating carnivore has been used in medicine to treat heart attacks, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and cancer. While most snakes are harmless, Matthew reminds us that it’s never a good idea to pick up a snake that you cannot identify.
Attendees learned where to look for snakes as they searched for hidden snakes around the park. Where can you find snakes in nature?
· Out basking in the sun
· Under rocks, logs, and objects that store heat near water
· In dark tunnels, holes, or burrows
· Among tall grasses
· In Rock walls
After finding the snakes, we painted them to match our favorite local or imaginary snakes. We learned that fear of snakes goes way back to Greek mythology’s Medusa, the bible, and even now in current media like Cobra Kai and Harry Potter.
For more wildlife experiences in the city, sign up for our next workshop on August 17th. This six-part family-friendly series occurs once a month, every third Saturday from 10am to 12pm.
