I had a stroll through University of West Florida's nature trail today.
Anyhow, I must note right here and now that I find this sign disturbing. Not because of the apparent lurking reptiles in the vicinity, but because the sign is stationed on the grounds of a University, and if you look closely, you will see that it appears to be authored by a small child from Public School 186 of Freesborough County, which is known for its willful refusal to instruct on the use of plural nouns, punctuation, and capitalization:
There are no poisonous snakes, and certainly no poisonous alligators in the area or on the trail. None. I promise.
If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a water moc/cottonmouth, pygmy rattlesnake, even a coral snake, all of which can cause you serious damage if you are unfortunate enough to disturb them. These, however, Dear University, are venomous snakes. They inject their toxin with a bite, as opposed to a creature [or plant] that is poisonous, from which the toxin can be rubbed off, swallowed, touched, but not directly circulated into the bloodstream, i.e., envenomated.
I just don't think it's asking too much for an institute which issues graduate degrees to get a damn sign right, so I wrote to the University, suggesting they pony up some cash for new signs and represent the fine South a bit more appropriately.
If they don't believe me about the snakes, they can check with the Environmental Sciences Department, which is precisely in front of the nature trail. Unless the poisonous alligators have stung all the professors to death.
PHOTO: Am I not the Vanna White of Mother Nature in this photo? Yes!
you may encounter poisonous snake and alligator in this area
To be fair, the nature trail and its signs are not incredibly near the English Department at the University, so it may have been a little too much work to cross-check that warning with someone a few buildings away, maybe as a professional courtesy, but the next mistake is egregious and unforgivable!There are no poisonous snakes, and certainly no poisonous alligators in the area or on the trail. None. I promise.
If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a water moc/cottonmouth, pygmy rattlesnake, even a coral snake, all of which can cause you serious damage if you are unfortunate enough to disturb them. These, however, Dear University, are venomous snakes. They inject their toxin with a bite, as opposed to a creature [or plant] that is poisonous, from which the toxin can be rubbed off, swallowed, touched, but not directly circulated into the bloodstream, i.e., envenomated.
I just don't think it's asking too much for an institute which issues graduate degrees to get a damn sign right, so I wrote to the University, suggesting they pony up some cash for new signs and represent the fine South a bit more appropriately.
If they don't believe me about the snakes, they can check with the Environmental Sciences Department, which is precisely in front of the nature trail. Unless the poisonous alligators have stung all the professors to death.
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