Thursday, AUGUST 21, 2025 |
Photo – Jessica Gifford with a boa – Courtesy Jessica Gifford
A Cody resident wants your snake photos to help build a new educational program.
In August of 2024, 24-year-old Jessica Gifford launched 307 Serpents, a community outreach initiative centered on snakes. Seeing a gap in public awareness, Gifford said she decided to create her own snake education course.
Gifford, a life-long snake enthusiast, has been holding a series of informal educational talks around the state, including Laramie and Cheyenne. Gifford said her presentations begin with 30 minutes of serpent information, followed by a show-and-tell. The snake educator said hands-on interaction is often the best way to help people overcome their fear of the misunderstood reptiles.
The snake presentations are only one aspect of 307 Serpents. Gifford said she also selectively breeds snakes to produce unique, well-tempered animals for the pet community.
In her presentations, Gifford often uses slideshows to highlight snake species she is unable to keep as pets. The snake educator is asking all Wyoming residents, including those in Carbon County, to send her clear, close-up pictures of the state’s native snake species for use in her classes.
Gifford has received her Master Herpetology certification from the Georgia-based Amphibian Foundation and is working toward earning her Venomous Handling certification through the Rattlesnake Conservancy.
The snake educator explained that rattlesnakes, particularly native prairie rattlesnakes, are among the most misunderstood reptiles. While their bites are dangerous to humans and pets, Gifford explained that rattlesnake venom is designed to incapacitate rodents. Unlike many other snake species, prairie rattlesnakes mainly feed on mice and ground squirrels and play a key role in controlling rodent populations.
By keeping rodent populations in check, Gifford said rattlesnakes also help reduce the number of ticks in their hunting areas.
Gifford said a common misconception about rattlesnakes is that the babies are more dangerous than adults. The snake educator said those commonly held beliefs are untrue.
If you or your pet are bitten by a rattlesnake, even a juvenile, Gifford said to immediately seek anti-venom. The snake educator said traditional remedies often do more harm than good.
As 307 Serpents continues to grow, Gifford said she hopes to offer courses in schools and libraries throughout the state.
Gifford is asking anyone with high-quality pictures of Wyoming’s native snake species to email them to 307serpents@gmail.com or contact her through the 307 Serpents Facebook page.
