Evening star., 1947-06-02
By Carter Dowson

The worst way in the world to
find snakes is to go out looking
for them.
That's what SO snake fanciers
were told yesterday, as they as
|sembled at Sixteenth and Geranium
streets NV, for a two-hour snake
hike in Rock Creek Park.
The guide, James A. Fowler, a
ranger naturalist Of the National
Park Service, announced that you
have to work ito get snakes and
then I can't guarantee you'll find
one"
Twelye-year-oid Bob Barry, 85l4
Salem way, Bethesda, evidently
thought of this. To make sure the
group glimpsed at least one SER
pent, he brought along a pilot
black snake in a jar he found a
week ago and had saved for the
occasion.
Worm Snake Is Dug Up.
With his two-foot machete to cut
away the foliage, Mr.. Fowler led
his hunters, between the ages of
7 and 65. through the park to the
floor remains of a deserted house.
With a garden cultivator he began
digging under the rotted floor
boards. Some BEETLES, worms and a
colony of big red ants were un-
earthed before Mr.. Fowler held up
a squirming worm snake.
While the 10-inch snake crawled
between his fingers, Mr.. Fowler, who
Is also a biology teacher at Sidwell-
Friends School, told the eager little
boys with their faces against the
snake and two women watching
from the road 80 feet away, about
the snakes body temperature and
how to tell where snakes tail
begins. A dozen hands waved wild
ly when Mr. Fowler asked for vol
unteers to hold the groups treasure.
William Pullim, 207 Douglas street
NE, George Washington Univer-
sity student, brought along a book
of illustrations on snakes which
he showed to, interested persons.
TT takes more patience than q
fisherman to be snakeman," he
explained.
"a Second Snake Found,
JIM. Barry, lao T street NE, un-
covered the second snake, a, full
grown ring neck. "I'm more proud
Of shooting that grizzly bear last
year in Canada" he remarked to his
admirers.
Mr.. Fowler found second worm
snake and led his followers to his
car parked on Kalnnia road. We're
going to feed our snakes to the
snakes which I brought in my car
in case we didn't find any on the
hike" he said. r..
Il feel like a Roman emperor feed
ing Christians to the lions" Mr..
Barry said.
Seven-year- -olG Edwin Brooks,
colored, and his brother and sister,
Alvin, II, and Shirley, 9, took turns
carrying the priced possessions to
the automobile. Their father, Walter
Brooks, 5037 Blaine street NE, said
he went every Sunday on the Park
Service hikes. This snake hunt
has got the children interested now"
he said.
On the way back, Mr.. Fowler de-
bunked snake myths and answered
questions. One woman, who was
scared to death of the things"
but had made herself 60 on the
hike, said she thought all snakes
we're dangerous.
Back at the car the snake en-
thusiasts watched a king snake
wrap around the little worm snake
in preparation for his meal. Only
one spectator gasped.
Mr.. Fowler encircled his neck with
a four and a half foot bull snake.
The crowd watched the snake try to
tighten around his arm and shoul-
der ITS a funny thing about
snakes, they know if you're used to
handling them," he said. Everyone
wanted to feel the bull. He was
bright yellow and black and had
just shed his skin. Mr.. Fowler let
him crawl in the dirt hit StOpned