Students drop Parcel-tongue, take up wrangling
KRISTA LUCKENBACH
Issue date: 3/23/09 Section: Campus News
Bucks will soon offer classes
in python wrangling.
Why hold such a bizarre
class? The recent invasion by
Burmese pythons in Florida
and their expected migration
to other parts of the U.S. has
prompted Bucks to make this
decision.
Though the snakes are not
expected to reach as far north
as Bucks County, they might
come quite close. About a
third of the U.S. provides a
suitable environment for the
creatures to live in and as
their numbers grow, they
may move beyond Florida,
possibly as far north as
Washington, D.C., which is
basically next door.
"This is a great time for us
to begin our snake wrangling
classes," said Professor
Stephen DoCarmo. "If these
creatures expand their territory
as expected, there will be a
growing need for professional
snake wranglers. With the
economy the way it is, jobs
are scarce. We want to offer
our students an opportunity
to be trained in what is
becoming a fast-growing
industry."
The college will be receiving
two of the pythons recently
captured in Florida for use
in classes next fall. Current
students, who suffer from
ophidiophobia, or a fear of
snakes, need not worry as the
snakes will be well-secured in
their holding pens.
Renowned snake whisperer
Jake Slitherton has come to
Bucks to help set up the snake
wrangling program. Though
he feels that his ability to
communicate with snakes is
not something that can be
taught, he is confident in his
ability to train students to
become competent snake
wranglers.
When asked what sort of
techniques will be taught to
those taking the classes,
Slitherton said, "The first
thing a snake wrangler tries
to do is tire the creature out.
This can be done several
ways. One technique is
called treadmilling, which is
when you run your hands
over the snake's belly, one
after the other to make it
think it's getting away.
in python wrangling.
Why hold such a bizarre
class? The recent invasion by
Burmese pythons in Florida
and their expected migration
to other parts of the U.S. has
prompted Bucks to make this
decision.
Though the snakes are not
expected to reach as far north
as Bucks County, they might
come quite close. About a
third of the U.S. provides a
suitable environment for the
creatures to live in and as
their numbers grow, they
may move beyond Florida,
possibly as far north as
Washington, D.C., which is
basically next door.
"This is a great time for us
to begin our snake wrangling
classes," said Professor
Stephen DoCarmo. "If these
creatures expand their territory
as expected, there will be a
growing need for professional
snake wranglers. With the
economy the way it is, jobs
are scarce. We want to offer
our students an opportunity
to be trained in what is
becoming a fast-growing
industry."
The college will be receiving
two of the pythons recently
captured in Florida for use
in classes next fall. Current
students, who suffer from
ophidiophobia, or a fear of
snakes, need not worry as the
snakes will be well-secured in
their holding pens.
Renowned snake whisperer
Jake Slitherton has come to
Bucks to help set up the snake
wrangling program. Though
he feels that his ability to
communicate with snakes is
not something that can be
taught, he is confident in his
ability to train students to
become competent snake
wranglers.
When asked what sort of
techniques will be taught to
those taking the classes,
Slitherton said, "The first
thing a snake wrangler tries
to do is tire the creature out.
This can be done several
ways. One technique is
called treadmilling, which is
when you run your hands
over the snake's belly, one
after the other to make it
think it's getting away.
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