EASTERN COPPERHEAD (Agkistrodon contortrix) – Finding this creature has thus far been the most enchanting animal encounter of my year. There exists some intrinsic fascination that draws my admiration for the beauty and complexity of this snake.
The evolutionary adaptations are marvelous, especially that of its pit organ that can detect temperature changes to .001⁰ C! An organ designed to map an environment within the infrared spectrum…just marvelous.
This is a juvenile, not even a year lived in this world, born with fangs, venom and a similar dorsal pattern of a mature specimen. Oh yes, its venom is quite potent at this young age.
This one seemed to have no qualms with me shooting a video and explaining of its magnificence. I did not approach this copperhead with fear and aggression and it did not respond in the same. I use this tactic with humans as well, no matter the skin color.
Venomous snakes need not be recklessly killed because of irrational fear. It’s this same irrational fear that drives the racism still thriving in the world today, especially where I live in the United States of America.
As a man with white skin, I cannot say I have ever been victimized by the concoctions of irrational fear fueling bigotry, sexism, racism and all those nasty '–isms'. I do my part to make sure others know that I do not tolerate marginalizing and vilifying individuals and groups based on those aforementioned primitive ‘–isms’.
I understand that I have not done enough to fully comprehend the existential unfairness that is targeted at certain groups in this world. I understand that my society has not done enough to prevent heinous acts from occurring on a regular basis. I understand that my fight cannot always focus on saving wildlife and addressing climate change; though I’m beginning to realize that these fights are more closely intertwined than I had realized.
Koaw Nature promotes spreading knowledge within all that is in Nature. We humans are a part of Nature. I believe knowledge has the power to diminish irrational fear.
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