Survivor Exile Island - 16 Castaways and Snakes
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In Panama, the dry season shakes leaves off the trees and removes one of the protections for local snakes:
"In dry season animals are on the move in search of water and shelter, or to flee seasonal brush fires, and nature's predators migrate along with their prey. The diminished foliage on the trees gives birds of prey a better view of their surroundings, but the leaves on the ground give the things they like to eat a place to hide. From the serpent's perspective a pile of leaves is both a shelter from avian and human predators and a hunting ground for tasty mice, frogs and lizards. Thus a romp though the leaves can lead to a surprise encounter and a painful bite. It happens often enough that experienced emergency room personnel will tell you that dry season is the time of the year when they see the most snakebites."
Snake Habitat
In The Venomous Snakes of Panama, the author, Norman W. Elton, M.D., states that "it has repeatedly been demonstrated statistically that one's chances of dying from snakebite are not greater than those of being struck by a bolt of lightning." However, it's a good thing to know how to recognize the danger and what to do in case of snakebite. Most of these bites occur on the foot and ankle and the hand and wrist. "The protective coloring of many snakes may result in a bite on the buttocks" is someone is careless about sitting.
Protective footgear is recommended, something that covers the ankle and lower leg, but during the first episode, I noted only one woman wearing boots of some sort.
"When a jungle camp is occupied for any length of time, food waste will attract rodents, and rodents will attract snakes. Since snakes hunt at night, some precautions will be advisable. For example, before putting one's foot outside of one's wickiup, spot the ground with a flashlight first, just to make sure the coast is clear.
When the time comes to break camp, in handling boxes or piles of supplies take care to note whether or not a food-laden snake may be resting under cover of the material being moved trying to keep out of the way while digesting its meal," continues Dr. Elton.
The vine snake, also known as Oxybelis aeneusand Whip Snake is slightly poisonous, but not dangerous for humans. It gets up to 180 cm long. When threatened it stiffens up and sticks the tongue out, thus mimicing a tree branch or vine. They produce a secretion with a bad smell when you touch them. Relatively agile eyes. Mountain rainforest, borders of savanna, swamps and cultivated land. All of Central America and the Northern half of South America.
What other forms of wildlife will the castaways encounter? Already one of the men was coping with sand fleas. Are they ready for the rest?
In Panama, the dry season shakes leaves off the trees and removes one of the protections for local snakes:
"In dry season animals are on the move in search of water and shelter, or to flee seasonal brush fires, and nature's predators migrate along with their prey. The diminished foliage on the trees gives birds of prey a better view of their surroundings, but the leaves on the ground give the things they like to eat a place to hide. From the serpent's perspective a pile of leaves is both a shelter from avian and human predators and a hunting ground for tasty mice, frogs and lizards. Thus a romp though the leaves can lead to a surprise encounter and a painful bite. It happens often enough that experienced emergency room personnel will tell you that dry season is the time of the year when they see the most snakebites."
Snake Habitat
In The Venomous Snakes of Panama, the author, Norman W. Elton, M.D., states that "it has repeatedly been demonstrated statistically that one's chances of dying from snakebite are not greater than those of being struck by a bolt of lightning." However, it's a good thing to know how to recognize the danger and what to do in case of snakebite. Most of these bites occur on the foot and ankle and the hand and wrist. "The protective coloring of many snakes may result in a bite on the buttocks" is someone is careless about sitting.
Protective footgear is recommended, something that covers the ankle and lower leg, but during the first episode, I noted only one woman wearing boots of some sort.
"When a jungle camp is occupied for any length of time, food waste will attract rodents, and rodents will attract snakes. Since snakes hunt at night, some precautions will be advisable. For example, before putting one's foot outside of one's wickiup, spot the ground with a flashlight first, just to make sure the coast is clear.
When the time comes to break camp, in handling boxes or piles of supplies take care to note whether or not a food-laden snake may be resting under cover of the material being moved trying to keep out of the way while digesting its meal," continues Dr. Elton.
The vine snake, also known as Oxybelis aeneusand Whip Snake is slightly poisonous, but not dangerous for humans. It gets up to 180 cm long. When threatened it stiffens up and sticks the tongue out, thus mimicing a tree branch or vine. They produce a secretion with a bad smell when you touch them. Relatively agile eyes. Mountain rainforest, borders of savanna, swamps and cultivated land. All of Central America and the Northern half of South America.
What other forms of wildlife will the castaways encounter? Already one of the men was coping with sand fleas. Are they ready for the rest?