town government Dummerston Conservation Commission Forester and Wildlife Rehabilitators Address Commission

By John Anderson

The weather this winter was erratic enough to give one’s expectations whiplash. In January and February, temperatures were unusually mild. For most of February, my yard, as well as nearby fields, were mostly snow-free. Then early March brought heavy, wet snows, blustery winds, and power outages! Despite all those annoying weather swings, the Conservation Commission managed to stay active, engaged and productive.

On February 1st, Windham County Forester Sam Schneski gave a talk entitled Reserve Forestland, a New Current Use Category. The change to the Use Value Appraisal program that he outlined allows landowners to opt for managing some select portions of any enrolled property in a way that promotes old growth forest conditions.

Interested qualifying landowners can reach out to Sam.Schneski@Vermont.gov to learn more.

A near capacity crowd packed the meeting room at the Community Center to hear Schneski’s presentation. All were interested in the concepts he expounded on and enthusiastic about the possibilities raised by the old growth management category he outlined.

In late March wildlife rehabilitator Fred Homer and local veterinarian Ron Svec (retired) gave a slide show and talk about their longtime partnership in the rescue, care, and rehabilitation of birds, especially birds of prey. Working both individually and in concert with staff at the vet clinic, this duo has, for decades, provided medical and rehabilitative care to an array of avian species. Their complementary roles, long time collaboration, and friendship have resulted in an interesting, inspiring, and well-documented history which we were privileged to have them share. An enthusiastic group filled to overflowing the meeting room at the Community Center for this talk and the love and respect audience members felt for

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this duo was palpable.

Now, having reported I’m going to share a fun (and a bit sensational) picture of a very defensive garter snake.

Garter snakes are by far the most common hand to manipulate my camera resulting in the above rather out of focus picture. Throughout the photo session the snake continued to strike with approximately the speed and tempo of a sewing machine. When I finally deposited the snake safely out of harm’s way I was unharmed, in fact completely unmarked, and more than a little amused by the gameness of that skinny little scrapper.

I once heard herpetologist Jim Andrews say that he wished everyone would get bitten once by one of our non-venomous snakes. Through that experience he thought that those struck would learn that there is nothing to fear from being thus bitten. I would agree, although I don’t think that all of our fears are totally rational; a snake poised to strike still makes me hesitate.

I have handled garters, milk snakes, brown snakes, ring-necked snakes, red-bellied snakes, green snakes, and I hope someday to handle a Northern water snake. I don’t find any of them terribly threatening. None have inflicted appreciable damage despite, like the garter I rescued, putting up very credible defenses.

Linda

Nick

Rood & Roger Turner

& Joan Thorndike

Martha & Mitch Momaney

Marcy Hermansader

Lou Nelson of the seven species of snake I might encounter in my rambles. They are prolific breeders and grow to maturity in under two years. Unfortunately they are fond of basking in roads and on trails, a habit which often proves fatal.

Whenever I see a soon-to-be-roadkill snake I move it to safety, and the little garter pictured - 18 inches long, as big around as my little finger - definitely misunderstood my intent. In the time it took me to straighten up after grasping the little reptile it struck perhaps two dozen times. At one point I think it was even contemplating swallowing me whole. After reprimanding the ungrateful cuss I used one

All of the snakes found in Dummerston are harmless and I have often told people that we have no venomous species. However, that is not technically true. Garter snakes do in fact have very mild venom which they deliver with their back teeth exclusively to subdue prey that they are in the act of swallowing. The venom is not powerful enough to harm a human and it would require sticking a finger deep into the snake’s mouth for any to be delivered. And I can attest that a garter snake, having no fangs, can strike you any number of times without inflicting any damage or delivering any venom.

If you see a soon-to-be-roadkill snake on a road or trail the ideal strategy would be to grasp it close behind the head therefore making it impossible for the snake to strike. But, if the options are allowing the snake to be killed or risking being bitten don’t worry, I have never experienced anything worse than a mild pinch during such rescues.

And, while any snake you grab will probably not be grateful, it will be alive. Few creatures the size of the garter pictured would have put up as spirited a defense. I admire that, no matter how ludicrous it seemed in that moment.

For more information on the Conservation Commission go to http://www.dummerston conservation.com