The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-08-03
of Agriculture
Experts Appeal
to the Public
to Stop Killing
Harmless
Reptiles and
Save Millions
of Dollars
Worth of Loss
from Creatures
the Snakes
Would
Destroy

There are nine species Of watersnakes
scattered broadcast In Florida IL one
species Of snake living in the mud. There
are two species of groundsnakes. two
species Of blacksnakes, one coach whip.
one gopher, or indigo snake-Quite affee-
Tomato; three pilot blaeksnakes, ono the
chicken and one the coFEsnake; I'VE spec
les Of kingsnakes. which are immune from
the poison Of all American poisonous
snakes, but are kill ID by the injection Of
cobra poison; three ring neeks, one scarlet
snake. two grass snakes, two greensnakes.
one rainbow snake. one red-bellied snake
and two species Of burroWing snakes, way
down South. The list only totals forty.
eight species There are. however, ninety
four species Of harmless snakes in all,
those omitted being very rare and known
only to collections.
Leaving man, the tmplacable, out Of the
matter, snakes have more natural enemies
than all other animals combined-another
reason, say his defenders, for declaring .
closed season on his slaughter by man.
All species Of hawks lowering above him
in air regard him as an easy meal ticket
Owls feed on him. Many owls constantly
search the sWamps and meadows for
snakes to eat. Night owls get him on
their nocturnal excursions. There are
snake birds and many species of wading
water birds, such as the heron family. that
20 after snakes that live in water, Of which
we have nine species.
Many species Of lizards eat snakes. Liz
ards are as numerous as snakes and have
the advantage in battle of having legs.
With their legs and feet they can run as
fast as any snake can crawl They can
also use their legs and feet as brace in
battle.
The small boy is the worst human enemy
of snakes, AM. it will req Tire much agita-
ton in the common schools and among
boy scouts to persuade them not to kill.
All told. nature Is pretty we'll able to
keep down to normal the suppl, OF snakes.
Tie rising menace to all sn -kes Is the
increasing commercial use Of their skins.
Formerly this use was confined to rattlers.
1t is now rapidly extending to all species.
The most gaudily-colored snakes will be
the first to become extinct.
1t is highly probable that all species OF
rattlesnake everywhere will become hard
to find If rot totally exterminated. Like
the alligator, the RATHER is the victim Of
commerce because of his valuable skin
Thousands of people are hunting out the
RATHER in his lair and selling h s hide to
the tanneries. his leather making the most
beautiful and durable of poeketbooks and
bill holders.
Pennsylvania, one Of the most prolific
sections for rattlers, has at least one large
snakeskin tannery and keeps hosts OF peo-
pie slaughtering rattlesnakes. Idaho how
ever, is the banner rattlesnake section OF
the country. Idaho has great ridges OF
rocks, in which are deep bowls, cracks and
caves. Herein rsttlers breed by the eter-
nal thousands and offer a vast industry
for RATHER harvesters. / entered one OF
these pits on hot August day, The
rattlers were shedding their skins and
fairly covered the floors. My presence
passed uEnOticed by them, as all were
blind while their coats were coming on.
Curator Ditmars, of Bronx Zoo, one OF
the worlds greatest snake experts, says:
THE largest and most dangerous North
American species is the diamond-back rat
confined to the southeastern por-
ton of the United States. 1t grows to a
length of over eight feet and attains the
greatest weight of any known poisonous
Copyright. 1919. by Star Company.