Basic training includes lessons on snakes

[unhappycamper]

Basic training includes lessons on snakes
By Joey Holleman - The (Columbia, S.C.) State
Posted : Saturday Feb 9, 2008 12:49:05 EST

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The 5-foot canebrake rattlesnake wasn’t all the way out of the plastic container before Spc. Christina Perez jumped up on the seat of her classroom desk at Fort Jackson.

She was 20 feet away from the plump reptile. She had been told the snake was lethargic from being transported on a cool morning. Several of her fellow trainees sat between Perez and the snake.

Asked later if she stood on the seat to get a better look at the snake, she gave a wide-eyed shake of the head.

“I don’t like snakes,” Perez said. “I’m terrified of snakes.”

Scott Pfaff, curator of herpetology at Riverbanks Zoo, brought several venomous snakes from the zoo to Fort Jackson, in part to alleviate some of those fears among safety troops who travel ahead of their units. It was the second time he had ventured out with the snakes. The other was for similar training for Special Forces troops.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_snakes_080209/

[DrDan]

1. I remember playing golf with my wife at Parris Island - not far from Columbia

My wife went into a trap - hit out and walked on to the green. As we prepared to putt, a huge eastern diamond back came out of that trap - was apparently under the grass bordering the green. The snake headed to the pin and just stayed there - not in a threatening manner - just laying by the pin. It was just glistening in the sun - probably had just shed it's skin.

We did not finish our putts on that hole.