Interpreting Snakes to the Public

Ten Hints for Success

When explaining to people about the potential risk from a snake or rattlesnake specifically, be sure to respect your audience’s risk perceptions. People often overestimate the risk of an uncommon but highly consequential risk (such as being bitten and dying from a rattlesnake bite). On the other hand, “experts” have a tendency to underestimate risk. It is important to present balanced information to your audience, to protect snakes and to protect human health and safety.
Most people know little about rattlesnakes or other reptiles for that matter. There are many misconceptions commonly held by people. It is helpful to become acquainted with commonly held misconceptions about the animal(s) in your area and to present factual information. This information should lead to better-informed decisions on the part of people regarding their behaviors toward snakes.
People who call you with a snake concern do so voluntarily. This indicates a sincere interest on the part of the caller in learning more about snakes. This means that they are apt to pay attention and actually process the information that they receive from you.
Results from interviews suggest that people do not feel comfortable judging a dangerous snake from a harmless snake. It is helpful to provide easy ways for people in your area to recognize a potential hazard from a non-hazard. An example is to give people highly visible and distinct field marks to help them tell non-venomous rattlesnake mimics from the rattlesnake(s) found in an area. This can be supplemented with written materials that illustrate the field marks.
When trying to help people get an elevated risk perception in line with reality, it is best to use other “natural” hazards as comparisons, rather than traffic accidents or some other “man-made” hazards. Examples include dog attacks, bee stings and lightning strikes, and the associated annual death rates.
Do not ever handle rattlesnakes when interpreting them or giving a demonstration of how to safely remove one from an area. When presenting information or giving a demonstration, try to be aware of the non-verbal messages that you send as well as the verbal ones. Handle the snake with a stick or padded grabber. As people observe the snake, emphasize the actions that you have taken to minimize the risk of the snake to you and your audience. Be sure to explain to your audience about how to behave in the presence of a snake to minimize their own risk. A broom and wastebasket may be used to demonstrate how to safely move a rattlesnake from an area, if absolutely necessary. Emphasize the risk posed to the snake by moving it, and that it is best if a landowner will allow the snake to move along on its own, rather than having a person move it. When a person insists on moving a snake, the shorter the distance it is moved, the better. When snakes are moved out of their home ranges, they are apt to die.
The role that you fill as an interpreter of snakes is to empower people to co-exist with snakes, both venomous and non-venomous. Be sure to go over a number of safety issues, and do your best to build people’s confidence in their abilities to co-exist with snakes, and to handle any potential human-snake encounter.
When working with people who may be living in close proximity to rattlesnakes, it is important to provide them with factual materials that will empower them to successfully co-exist with snakes. Materials may include handouts on avoiding and treating rattlesnake bite, living with snakes, a fact sheet about the species of interest, how to identify a venomous snake from a non-venomous one, and a rattlesnake resources contact card.
While we do not want people to overestimate risk, we also do not want them to underestimate risk. Black bears and alligators attacking and killing people due to a reduced fear of humans by the animals provide recent examples of why it is essential that humans understand that wild animals do pose a potential risk. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge the risk that rattlesnakes pose, and actions that people can take to stay safe. Rather than trying to get people to think of rattlesnakes in a “warm and fuzzy” fashion, attempt to instill respect and appreciation for snakes in people.
Lastly, it is important to present balanced information when attempting to facilitate the co-existence of people and potentially dangerous wildlife. This includes sharing human values associated with rattlesnakes, such as aesthetics and utility (e.g. pharmaceuticals, ecosystem functions), as well as risks associated with co-existing with them (potential for snakebites).