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Hernando Today

Do The Rattlesnake Shake

By BOB EAST III

Rattlesnake researcher Bruce Means gets different reactions as he shows a small eastern diamondback rattlesnake to from left, Bryanna LaGrassa, 9, Ronald Sheldon, Zachary LaGrassa, 8, Devin Wilbanks, 9, and Linda Vanderveen at the Chinsegut Reptile and Amphibian Festival Saturday.

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: October 12, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - The sound of a snake's rattle usually disperses a crowd.

On Saturday at Chinsegut Nature Center, the opposite happened.

After snake expert Bruce Means pulled an eastern diamondback rattlesnake out from its display case, the crowd under the tent doubled. They watched in awe as he grabbed the reptile by its neck and body.

Venom shot out of its fangs as Means went into more detail about the diamondback, which he said is the largest poisonous snake in North America.

Means' demonstration was one of the more than 10 programs offered during Saturday's Reptile and Amphibian Festival.

Alligators, turtles and other various reptiles always were featured during previous festivals, but Means was a "big get" for the nature center this year, said Chinsegut spokeswoman Kristin Wood.

Up to 500 people attended Saturday's festival, a big jump from 2007.

Means is an ecologist, professor and author. He is the president and executive director of the Coastal Plains Institute and Land Conservancy.

Of all the ecological research he has done throughout his career, he sees more enthusiasm and larger crowds whenever he gives speeches or presentations on snakes.

"I guess the public likes the titillation of snakes," he said. "It's the Steve Irwin effect."

Means removed the snake from the case only during the afternoon demonstration. He decided against it for the morning crowd.

He often chooses not to handle snakes because of how stressful it can be for the animal.

As he struggled to return the snake into the plastic container and as it hissed and rattled, he told the audience "unfortunately, this is very traumatic for the snake."

While he was trying to put the rattlesnake away, a pregnant Kim Epply, of Brooksville, remained in her chair in the rear of the tent. She already had overcome her fears just to attend Saturday's event. She wasn't about to get any closer to angry reptile.

"It was educational and scary," she said. "Snakes make me very nervous."

Terri Williams and her son, 10-year-old Tyler, were not as shy.

The Boy Scout was begging his mother to take him that morning.

"He kept saying, 'We're late, we're late, hurry,'" Williams said of her son.

Half of the crowd was made up of kids ages 10 and younger, but Tyler Williams differentiated himself.

He raised his hand several times during Means' demonstration and gave some of the loudest "whoas" when the professor held the snake in his hands.

"I thought that was incredible," the boy's mother said. "I wasn't expecting that. The (rattler) sounded like a bunch of bees."

Means said he attended the festival as a favor to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He is often busy writing books and giving lectures. He enjoys visiting nature centers whenever he can.

"It's rare to have events like this that promote the education of reptiles and amphibians," he said of the festival. "It's nice to see."

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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