An series of images appeared on my facebook profile that really disappointed me. Actually, it really just pissed me off.
These photos were taken by a herpetologist studying garter snakes. On October 5th, Neil Balchan arrived at his field site to gather data on wild garter snakes....what he found was a pile of around 50 snakes that had been ruthlessly butchered. Many had their heads smashed or were outright decapitated, and were killed so recently that most were still twitching and moving and a couple were even still just barely alive. Balchan identified one snake with a blue stripe (pictured above) as the first snake he had tagged for his study.
These garter snakes are small, harmless creatures that pose no risk to humans. These snakes were found in and around a hibernaculum, a den that houses dozens or even hundreds of snakes over winter; these animals were butchered as they were preparing to hibernate. What makes this even worse is that this horrible act wasn't committed around someone's home (that wouldn't justify it, but still), this took place deep in the woods, a pretty far walk from any vehicle. Whoever did this went into the wilderness for the sole purpose of killing defenseless wildlife.
What really grinds my gears is that anyone could look at this behavior and find it acceptable. Most of the comments were sympathetic to the snakes, even from individuals who hold no love for reptiles, but there were responses of approval. Some people actually believe this person did a good deed. This is one of the nightmares for herpetologists like myself. What other animals do we kill on this magnitude simply because we don't like them? And why do we think it is okay that since we dislike them, we can kill them? Imagine if people killed cats or dogs just because they didn't like them. Every day, people brag to me about the snakes they kill like it is a badge of honor. It's not just that it's considered acceptable to do so, it is considered admirable. So how do I help protect animals that much of the public has deemed appropriate to kill on sight?
I know snakes can be scary. Some can even be dangerous, but this isn't the answer to dealing with things we don't like. These are incredibly beneficial creatures that we rely on more heavily than we realize. We need to act like civilized humans and not just lash out violently when we see something that displeases us. You don't have to love snakes, you can even hate them, but you have to recognize what happened here as a horrific crime. This is the senseless slaughter of wildlife at the hands of someone who has no compassion for the environment.
And that, America, is what really grinds my gears.
You are a good human for letting us all know about such nastiness @herpetologyguy.
Usually a person is afraid because they want to stop feeling powerless or get off on the power of judgment.
Disgusting.
Consider my gears ground also.
I hope it isn't a total loss for your data or time. I am gonna send an SBD to help recover some of your research budget. Also I am gonna delegate 2k SP for a month. I have to cooldown my SP at the moment. When I am done 2k SP all yours for 1 whole month date to date.
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Thank you so much for your kind words, but there is no need for your generous donation! This wasn't my work or research but that of another herpetologist, Neil Balchan. I actually do not even know this individual personally, but I came across the photos through some of the reptile groups I follow (if that wasn't very apparent that is my bad). I shared it here because I have felt this sort of hate for snakes before, even if I wasn't personally connected to this incident. So save your steem or feel free to donate and support other worthy groups and researchers! Thanks!
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Sure. I will.
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No worries.
I am glad you stick up for life.
I already sent the tip.
Pay it forward.
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Hmm, it kind of makes you wonder what kind of person would kill so many snakes, and for facebook, I'm not surprised. Anyway, this comment section is very weird, people saying good photo...perhaps they're bots @herpetologyguy.
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Mostly just new users copy-pasting comments to earn steem. Nothing unusual but incredibly frustrating.
Yeah, unfortunately, this isn't particularly surprising, that's what makes it so depressing. This kind of behavior is often considered to be "normal". I'd like to think the person who did this was just ignorant, and with a little education will never commit the same atrocity. But given their actions, I think this is just a person who has hate in their heart.
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They do this in my country, or at least did when I was a teen. Randomly poisoning dogs kept as pets by throwing poisoned foods in their yards, and outright killing street cats brutally or stirring the wheel in order to run them over on purpose when they got in front of cars, was not at all a rare occurrence.
I think ignorance is to blame. Although I always reacted negatively to the killings of cats and dogs, I can sort of remember a time when I too would look at those pictures of dead snakes and think nothing of it. And when I introspect as to why, I find the reason was simply ignorance. I didn't know things like "snakes can be beneficial" or "there's snakes that are harmless" etc. I thought of them like mice or mosquitoes, I guess.
With snakes, it's still considered something of a hobby or a thing-to-do when certain types of people go out into the wild. Not different than foraging mushrooms. You pick up some mushrooms, you kill some snakes that you encounter on the way. I knew a person when I was a kid who killed every hedgehog he saw in front of him. (Btw completely unlikable person in general, with issues.)
So, like I said, at least in the case of normal people, education is all that's needed. People like you, people like the herpetologist who posted these pics, to inform people.
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You're right, there are people who kill things they don't like, dogs and cats included. However, when they kill these animals there is usually quite a public outcry (at least in my experience, yours may differ) and people are enraged by the act. What bothers me is that with snakes, there is no outcry, and some people even display some level of gratitude toward the killer. People know killing dogs and cats is wrong, but seem unaware that killing snakes is just as wrong.
I do think (and pray!) it is largely ignorance. I hope that through education and understanding, people can appreciate these animals and the natural world around them. That is why I do what I do; I try to educate people and bring them around to understanding our reliance on these creatures. And usually it works; most people are simply unaware and will feel some level of remorse once they understand the animal and what they have done. Most people do come around; I've had individuals who have killed snakes in the past that they believed to be dangerous, but once I explained how harmless and beneficial they really are, they now even appreciate these animals around their homes. However, it is the rare instances like this that I unfortunately do not think ignorance is to blame, but simple hate and a desire to kill. I believe this individual committed this knowing full well what they were doing.
Thanks for your comment!
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In this specific case, I think it's just a person with issues, maybe a sadist of sorts, lashing out on animals who can't defend themselves. If there are people who like to torture humans, fully cognizant of what they're doing, I see no reason why they wouldn't do the same to animals. Like the hedgehog guy in my story, who specifically liked to put them on fire, like another guy who swung cats from their tails cos he was fascinated by how the tails broke off, etc. I don't know what can be done about them, but maybe they can be indirectly controlled by sufficiently educating people in their periphery. (Whoever did that thing in your post, he has a family, friends, etc., people who probably know about this "hobby" of his.)
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That's a fair point and definitely one I can't argue with. Some of the people who enable these individuals are just as much of a problem even if they don't actively engage in the behavior. Earlier this year, a young girl microwaved a turtle and the mother of course defended her and downplayed the situation. So you're right, maybe reaching out to these people can help prevent these scenarios. Law enforcement agencies are also cracking down on what constitutes cruelty and abuse and I think the added threat of fines/incarceration will help cut down on these heinous incidents.
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That's pretty sad. I'm not sure why anyone would do something like this. :/
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I'd like to think it's ignorance, and perhaps we can beat it with education and understanding. But if it's an act of hate, and I certainly suspect this was, I'm not sure how to overcome it as easily.
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Sorry to come across this disturbing post, but you're doing the right thing to bring awareness. I can't begin to understand how so many snakes were captured and left like that at once. No questions this round since there are no good answers. Sorry again.
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Ironically, I just posted a photo on Facebook of a garter I found in my back yard over the weekend. It's still alive, as far as I know, hopefully eating mice and spiders.
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I feel for you. I never understand this kind of behaviour. We have that here too (Nicaragua). People see a snake it is automatically venomous and dangerous. Out come 10 guys with machetes to dispatch the poor helpless snake. It makes me sick. My Swedish neighbour and I have started a small program to get people to come to us when they find a snake. We are trying to educate them. But it is an uphill battle. We are actually paying the kids to come to us first...
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That's awesome though! And every single snake you save is a success! The good news is that at least it sounds like what you are dealing with is fear and ignorance...perhaps it can be effectively combated with education. Unfortunately, incidents like this, carried out with simple hate, are the real threat to these animals because I don't know of any easy way to fight that kind of hatred.
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Hatred is a strong emotion and sometimes there is no cure for it as it dwells deep in the hearts of some people...
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Great work. I love it
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It is sickening.
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there is a lot of snakes.fantastic photography...,
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They portray a slaughter.
Not cool at all.
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Always be happy.
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You did not even bother to read the article.
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Umm.. did you even read the article?
Irrelevant comments should be flagged.
Someone murdered wildlife.
Are you happy about killing innocent lifeforms?
If that is true, STEEMit isn't for you, please go back to Facebook.
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It wasn't some primal reaction of fear. The person or people who did this had to seek them out to do it. The site itself is way off the beaten path, well known, and well signed.
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