Snake Eyes
Eleven-year-old Hannah Shepherd interacts with
a curious
rattlesnake during ‘pre-lecture fun’ activities
at Welch Hall on Nov. 18. The snake exhibit
was part of the Environmental Science Institute's ‘Hot
Science — Cool Talks’ lecture
series coordinated by Jay Banner, director of
the Environmental Science Institute. At the
event, Dr. Travis J. LaDuc, a herpetologist
at the university, discussed ‘The Striking
Behavior of Rattlesnakes.’ The lecture
dispelled some of the myths surrounding
rattlesnakes by sharing insights into their
natural history gained through the use of high-speed
videography, thermal imaging cameras and radio
transmitters. These technologies have opened
new avenues of research on the physiological
and behavioral limits of not only rattlesnakes,
but of other animals. LaDuc offered suggestions
on how best to avoid encounters with rattlesnakes.
Coupled with a better understanding of rattlesnake
biology, LaDuc expressed the hope that rattlesnakes
can be respected as an integral component of
the natural landscape that play an integral
role in maintaining the balance within ecosystems.
Photo by Christina Murrey
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