Coyote Peterson visits the Reptile Discovery Center in Florida, where Carl Barden and his team extract venom from snakes to create antivenom. Coyote witnesses the process of milking venom from a southern copperhead, a water moccasin, and an eastern diamondback rattlesnake, which is considered one of the most venomous snakes in the United States. Carl explains that he has been bitten 11 times in 27 years, but only 9 of those bites resulted in envenomation. The team's work is crucial in saving lives, as the venom they extract is used to create antivenom that can treat snake bites.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Reptile Discovery Center is located in Deland, Florida, and is owned and operated by Carl Barden.
2. The center is home to dozens of the world's most dangerous snakes.
3. The center is also a Medtoxin Venom Laboratory, where snakes are milked for venom to create antivenom.
4. Carl Barden has been bitten by 11 snakes in the past 27 years, but only nine bites resulted in envenomation.
5. The center has about 1000 snakes onsite, with 500 of them being used for venom production.
6. The venom of the southern copperhead is not typically lethal, and it would take over 100 milligrams of venom to kill a human.
7. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is considered one of the most dangerous snakes in the United States due to its potent venom and aggressive behavior.
8. The venom of the eastern diamondback can kill a human if left untreated.
9. The center creates antivenom from the venom of these snakes, which can save lives in the event of a snake bite.
10. Carl and Mara, the handlers at the center, put their lives at risk daily to ensure that anyone bitten by a venomous snake has a fighting chance for survival.