Georgia Southern Wildlife Center showcases underappreciated creatures
Desmond Harris
11/30/16
Statesboro, GA
On Tuesday, Georgia Southern’s Wildlife Center staff showcased creepy creatures and pests we can find in our own backyard and highlighted their underappreciated uses.
To begin the show Wildlife center specialists Will Collier and John Haley premiered the Madagascar Hissing Roach. This roach is s characterized by their hissing sound, which is produced when they forcefully expel air through the specially-adapted respiratory openings. “These roaches are one of the largest species of cockroach in the world”, explained Collier. The Madagascar roach is also known to have medical uses. “The brains of these particular specimens are processed and used to treat various forms of E.Coli”, stated Collier.
The Tiger Salamander was the second creature featured at the program. This amphibian was a dark and blotchy with large eyes. “This little guy breathes through his skin so he is very sensitive to touch”, explained Haley. The Tiger Salamander is commonly found in the southeastern region of the United States. Because of its sensitive skin the salamander lives in a primarily wet environment. “The presence of these creatures indicate a healthy water source such as pond or creek” stated Haley.
Collier then revealed the Timber rattlesnake; a venomous snake found in the eastern side of the United States. The rattlesnake was at least 4 feet long and had slits for eyes. “You can tell if a snake is venomous by the shape of its head; if it resembles a closed fist it's poisonous”, exclaimed Collier. He then used a hypothetical to explain how snakes were beneficial to humans and pest control. “Would you rather have 100 rats in your home or 1 snake in your backyard?” asked Collier.
In conclusion, the specialists presented a beautiful Red Tailed Hawk. “These birds of prey have exemplary eyesight; they can spot dinner hundreds of yards away” stated Collier. The Red Tailed Hawk has a primary diet of snakes and rats which help with pest control. “The Red Tailed Hawk is capable of extorting 400 pounds of pressure through its claws and has a diving speed of 120 MPH” exclaimed Haley.
The Georgia Southern Wildlife Center hosts daily environmental programs such as these every weekday at 3:30 at its central location on Forrest Drive. Admission is free for students and children under 3. General admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children. The Center exists to support Georgia Southern University in its environmental education programs, as well as to provide wildlife encounters for the school children and citizens of this region.