Jonathan Schechter knows critters and critters have come to know him.
‘There’s more of a chance of someone getting in an accident while talking on a cell phone than there is of someone finding a rattlesnake,? said Schechter, an Ortonville naturalist and part-time employee with the Brandon Township Fire Department.
At the department’s headquarters June 16, Schechter took time to educate Brandon residents about the myths and realities associated with the rattlesnake. He held one session in the morning and one in the evening, and said approximately 20-25 people showed up for the seminars.
He said even though rattlesnakes can be found in Brandon Township, they’re ‘extremely hard to find? because of how well they camouflage themselves.
A common rattlesnake, according to Schechter, is the Massasauga rattlesnake. They are distinguished by a ‘pit? located between the eye and nostril to help them locate warm-blooded prey in the dark, as well as a dark ‘mask? which runs from the eye to the back of their head.
Massasauga rattlesnakes are typically gray, gray and brown, or brown in color, with rows of dark blotches down the back. Once they become adults, they are usually between 18-30 inches in total length.
‘People confuse other species with rattlesnakes, but they’re unable to bite,? Schechter said. ‘I’ve seen only one in Brandon Township. Oakland County is considered the best spot for them.?
Other snakes common to the township, Schechter said, are northern watersnakes (‘aggressive but not poisonous?) and milk snakes (‘harmless?).
As part of his job with the township’s fire department, Schechter helps deal with animals that interfere with the department’s response to various situations.
‘The department is not set up to handle wildlife calls, but if the animal is involved in a medical call, we need to do something before the county’s animal control department arrives,? he said.
Brandon Township Fire Chief Bob McArthur recalled one such incident he was involved in, when the department responded to a trailer fire and encountered a snake that took up an entire bathtub. The department didn’t have to handle the snake, though.
‘The homeowner was able to remove the animal,? he said.
McArthur added that, the department hasn’t dealt with many significant incidents involving wildlife ? he estimated ‘one every four or five years.?
Schechter also said the department seldom deals with wildlife, but he does recall having to deal with such exotic creatures as alligators, tarantulas, piranhas and iguanas.
A notable incident occurred when he was working in Bloomfield Hills. Schechter was assisting Public Safety Officer Dave Wilson (now retired) on Woodward, north of Long Lake with a large snapping turtle that was holding up traffic. ‘We had to help it get across the road,? he said.