Providence Canyon Mascot Hosted by Bee Beautiful Garden Club of Richland

For the February monthly meeting held at the Garden Club Room in Richland, the Bee Beautiful Garden Club hosted an unusual visitor, Popcorn, the mascot corn snake! Reba Brumbeloe, the Providence Canyon Naturalist, was BBGC’s speaker for the month. She brought along her sidekick, Popcorn, to educate members on how to identify differences between venomous and non-venomous snakes. Photo above: L to R: Betsy Quam, Donna Quam, Peggy Mitchell, guest Ms. Quam, Treasurer Hank Wilson, Harmony Smith, Charese Hasan, DNR Naturalist Reba Brumbeloe with Popcorn, Nea Permenter, Incoming 2023-25 President Christy Mcnamara, Chaplain Hunter Widgeon, and Historian Kayla Usher. Not pictured: Outgoing President Peggy Wilson, Al DeBenedetto, and Cliff Tubbs.

Information Reba presented was their food requirements (live animals such as mice), how many eggs a snake will lay (10-15 eggs x2 on a yearly basis), how long they live in the wild vs captivity (5-7 vs 11, respectively), who is more likely to get bit by a snake (males 18-24) and where (on the arms), according to NPS.

Bet you didn’t know that there are 46 species of snakes in Georgia, the US state with the most species. Six are venomous with the Eastern Coral Snake being the most venomous of them all. It is easily confused with the scarlet king snake which is non-venomous and considered a “friendly” snake to most individuals. Reba states that if someone does get bitten by a snake, do not panic! Take a picture for a doctor to identify the type of snake that bit you. Get out of the immediate area and call 911. DO NOT TRY PICKING A WILD SNAKE UP!

Members enjoyed handling Popcorn; others decided to keep a safe distance! Either way you looked at Popcorn, BBGC enjoyed having her as our guest for the evening. For more information about snakes, you can contact Reba at 229-887-4244 or at Reba.brumbeloe@dnr.ga.gov