Women in Nuclear - WiN Canada

GIRLS Science Club learns how animals survive in the wild
By Liz Dadson

Biologist Megan Rasmussen (L) holds a Pueblan milk snake, while Fiona Robertson holds an Eastern milk snake, Katie Brolese holds a box turtle, and Hannah Bos holds a Honduran milk snake

Twenty-four girls in Grades 4-7 spent their Friday morning off school (Professional Development Day) at the Bruce Power Visitors' Centre, learning about "The Adaptations for Survival" - how animals protect themselves in the wild, the importance of a turtle shell, camouflage and mimicry, and hibernation.

Part of the Girls In Real Life Science (GIRLS) club, hosted by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and the Women in Nuclear (WiN) - Bruce, the program was taught by biologist Megan Rasmussen of Orillia and her repertoire of reptiles. She presented a real-life box turtle, outlining its characteristics and what it does to protect itself from predators. She also showed various species of milk snake, including the Eastern milk snake and the Coral snake, a garter snake, snapping turtle, Blanding turtle, painted turtle, ball python and a crested gecko.

"The baby painted turtles are amazing," she said. "They hatch from the eggs and stay in the nest in a frozen state over the winter and then emerge in the spring. Wood frogs do that too."

Definitely in her element, Rasmussen enjoys researching and writing about the reptiles, but she loves showing them to students and teaching them about the animals. The snakes come from "Sciensational Snakes" of Orillia, while the program, "Reptiles at Risk on the Road," is sponsored by Laurentian University in Sudbury, CARCNET (the Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network), the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and Environment Canada.

"The focus is generally on native animals," said Rasmussen, "but most of these students have seen a lot of that, so we brought in some more exotic animals for them to see and handle."

 Megan Rasmussen displays an Eastern milk snake, native to Ontario

She told the girls that wild snakes bite only if they are hungry or if they are eating. The snake has an excellent sense of smell so it sticks out its tongue in order to figure out what's around it. Without the use of its tongue, it's like one of the girls walking around with her eyes closed.

"If you're scared of something in the wild, leave it alone," said Rasmussen. "Give the animals the respect they deserve, even if they're completely harmless."