Caring for Critters Spotlight Series:
Malcolm the Cornsnake
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Well, hello everyone! And welcome to today's Caring for Critters Spotlight.
Comment From BarbG
Hi Raina
Comment From Brenda from Virginia
Greetings, Raina!
Raina Krasner, WCV:
For those just joining us from November 18 to December 18 (with the exception of Nov 26) the Outreach staff is
featuring of one of our 25 non-releasable animals on the Critter Cam’s moderated
discussion at 1:00 pm (Eastern).
Comment From David in VA
Good afternoon Raina...
Comment From Lydia PA � �
Hi Raina
Raina Krasner, WCV:
It can be very difficult to select an animal to sponsor through the Wildlife Center’s Caring for Critters program,
so hopefully by joining us today (and each day of the spotlight series) you can learn more about the education
animals and make a more informed decision about who to adopt!
Comment From Carrie/Izzy
Raina! :) Hello do you know what makes today extra fun?
Raina Krasner, WCV:
What?
Comment From Carrie/Izzy
Oh Amanda said something about fun stuff?? She is very good at teasing :D
Caring for Critters Spotlight Series: Malcolm the Cornsnake
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Raina Krasner, WCV:
Oh! Yes. Yes I do.
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Today’s featured critter is Malcolm the Cornsnake!
Raina Krasner, WCV:
And ...
Comment From Cathy in Poquoson
Ready and waiting, Raina
Comment From Stephen in NC
Welcome Raina! Nice to have you with us!
Raina Krasner, WCV:
We'll have a special surprise in a just a few minutes.
Comment From Michelle
Hello!
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Malcolm is one of our oldest residents. In his previous career, Malcolm was a classroom pet; he came to the
Wildlife Center in February 2010 when the teacher retired and needed to find a new home for Malcolm. By the
time he came to the Wildlife Center, he was already already in his mid-teens! Which means Malcolm is now more than
20 years old and a very experienced educator.
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Because he was a pet for (likely) his entire life, he could never be released into wild. He would lack the
necessary experience to protect himself, find food, and find shelter in the winter for hibernation.
Caring for Critters Spotlight Series: Malcolm the Cornsnake
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Raina Krasner, WCV:
Many species of reptiles, including cornsnakes which are native to Virginia, are sold as pets. Malcolm helps us to
teach people about being responsible pet owners and environmental stewards. Releasing non-native snakes,
especially those kept as pets long-term, is bad news for that snake and potentially for the entire ecosystem.
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Oops!
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Forgot to "change" for the occasion.
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Malcolm helps us to remind people about this important information - don't release pets into the wild.
Raina Krasner, WCV:
He also helps us to share species specific information about cornsnake – a very common snake in Virginia.
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Their role in the ecosystem is to eat rodents and therefore keep the rodent population in check. They would
also eat amphibians and other small reptiles, even some insects!
Comment From Lydia PA � �
Awwww....Malcom is a special cornsnake!
Comment From Cathy in Poquoson
Good avatar, Raina
Raina Krasner, WCV:
They have brilliant coloration – reds, oranges, yellows, and grays – and are known for being beautiful snakes.
Comment From cwerb ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ
he does dress well.
Caring for Critters Spotlight Series: Malcolm the Cornsnake
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Raina Krasner, WCV:
Malcolm blending into the leaves ... kind of :)
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Malcolm is also a favorite of one of our staff members, Elizabeth the office manager!
Comment From Lydia PA � �
Love that artwork!
Comment From cwerb ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ ♥ ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ
I wonder if autumn is his favorite time of year. He blends in so nicely with the foliage.
Caring for Critters Spotlight Series: Malcolm the Cornsnake
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Comment From Brenda from Virginia
Elizabeth has good taste in reptiles.
Raina Krasner, WCV:
A typical CFC update about Maloclm may include some new photos, information about how he’s teaching a new
student or volunteer to work with snakes, or news of a big event he’ll be attending.
Raina Krasner, WCV:
If you decide Malcolm is the critter for you to sponsor, you’ll learn all about his busy life as a traveling education
animal.
Raina Krasner, WCV:
As a Caring for Critters sponsor, you [or a gift recipient] will receive a special Adoption Packet, including:
Your sponsored animal’s biography;
A photo of the animal;
Detailed information about the animal's species;
A personalized certificate of sponsorship.
Raina Krasner, WCV:
http://wildlifecenter.org/s...
Comment From BillH
How did they come to be called "cornsnakes"?
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Ahh, well ... because they eat corn!
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Kidding. Actually, they do like to hang out in corn fields though.
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Because in corn fields, there are mice. And where there are mice, there need to be snakes to eat them!
Raina Krasner, WCV:
I always say, if you like pizza, mac and cheese, oatmeal ... you need to like snakes! They help to make sure
rodents don't eat all of the grains that make the foods you like to eat.
Comment From PaulaR
what's the average lifespan of corn snakes? I had no idea Malcolm was so old! (and how do snakes change as they
age?...do they get arthritis in that long bony spine of theirs?)
Raina Krasner, WCV:
They can live into their early 20s. I think that oldest recorded was 21 years old, which means that Malcolm
already has that beat! We don't have complete records of his life though, so we can't be sure of his exact age.
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Malcolm is still a very healthy snake - he eats, slithers around his enclosure, greets visitors ... but as they age,
snakes can certainly show some signs of being geriatric! Arthritis or other health issues.
Caring for Critters Spotlight Series: Malcolm the Cornsnake
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Raina Krasner, WCV:
We give Malcolm the best care possible, and of course, it's your support that allows that!
Comment From BillH
TUVM Raina
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Here's one more photo of Malcolm ... at last year's annual gala with Elizabeth.
Comment From BarbG
thanks Raina Malcolm was my CFC last year
Comment From Carrie/Izzy
Malcolm is one of the reasons I am less fearful of snakes, he is so gentle and kind. He has taught me snakes have a place
in the ecosystem even if they are still a bit scary! Go Malcolm!
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Yay, Malcolm! Teaching the world.
Comment From PaulaR
Thanks, Raina! He certainly looked healthy, but I don't know as much about snakes as about other critters...just know
they don't get grey hairs as they age (lol)
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Ha, very true!
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Thank you for joining us during today's spotlight. Tomorrow we'll feature another critter, so tune in! It will be
after Hospital Cam, which starts at 9 a.m.
Caring for Critters Spotlight Series: Malcolm the Cornsnake
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Comment From Brenda from Virginia
Thanks for sharing Malcolm with us today, Raina.
Comment From Brenda from Virginia
Did you bring hummus to the potluck?
Raina Krasner, WCV:
No hummus ... there is plenty of mashed potatoes though! Which satisfies me. :)
Comment From PaulaR
(By the way, these spotlights don't help at all...it just makes me want to adopt each and every one of them! what a
fiendish plot!)
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Ah, I can understand the struggle.
Comment From c eb ๏๏)
BOOOO we had computer problems all day yesterday and missed Papa G'Ho spotlight! {We LOVE the archives!]
YAAAAAAAAAY that we CAN make today! Waving to ALL and great big bearETTE hugs too!
Raina Krasner, WCV:
Yes! They will all be archived, even if you miss it live. Glad your computer is fixed today.
Comment From David in VA
Thank you for the informative discussion on Malcolm Raina...
Comment From Carrie/Izzy
These spotlights are amazing but there really isn't a wrong answer on who to sponsor :) every ambassador is a welcome
addition!
Caring for Critters Spotlight Series: Malcolm the Cornsnake
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