I just thought it was neat that there is a World Snake Day. We have numerous woodland snakes where I live, a few miles east of Ithaca NY in secluded cul-de-sac carved out of old woods between a tall hill and a hollow. It's terrific snake territory. Also small rodents and tons of other random critters.
Two years ago a big mama garter took up residence next to the house on the shade side and produced a crop of young (is that a litter?) that scattered and found themselves other homes successfully. I love watching such life.
Anyway, those of us who love the often-unloved of God's critters are a special breed. I'll tell you about my many years with skunks some other time. :-)
I havent seen mine since shortly after the house fire.
They’re being wonderfully cared for by a dear FR friend and lack for absolutely nothing but I still ache for the absence of them nonetheless.
Half the house still has no electricity so bringing them home would be unfair tothem as they require specific heat and humidity levels and reading so much hate towards innocent beings is just a lot right now.
Imagine a world dog or cat day thread like this.
😢
Also, your endless kindness and compassion dues not go unappreciated
♥️
How many snake killers are alive right now thanks to the objects of their irrational hatred?
How many more will be saved by the ongoing cancer research o n snake venom?
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Several life-saving medications, particularly for cardiovascular and blood disorders, are derived from or modeled after snake venom. Scientists isolate specific peptides and proteins from venom, which are then used directly as purified drugs or synthesized into pharmaceutical compounds to treat conditions like high blood pressure and heart attacks.
Lehigh Valley Health Network
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Common medications inspired or made from snake venom include:
Captopril: The most famous venom-derived drug, approved in the early 1980s. Modeled after a peptide from the venom of the Brazilian pit viper (Bothrops jararaca), it is an ACE inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.
British Heart Foundation
Eptifibatide (Integrilin): An antiplatelet medication modeled after disintegrins found in the venom of the Southeastern pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri). It is used to prevent blood clots and heart attacks in acute coronary syndrome patients.
Wikipedia
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Tirofiban (Aggrastat): An antiplatelet drug developed from echistatin, a component of the saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) venom. It prevents platelets from clumping together during and after a heart attack.
Lehigh Valley Health Network
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Batroxobin (Reptilase/Defibrase): A thrombin-like enzyme sourced from the venom of the Brazilian lancehead snake (Bothrops atrox). It is used primarily outside the United States as a coagulant or to defibrinogenate the blood to prevent strokes and improve circulation.
Wikipedia
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Enalapril: Another widely used ACE inhibitor heavily reliant on original snake-venom research, functioning similarly to Captopril to help manage cardiovascular health.
Lehigh Valley Health Network
To explore or compare cardiovascular medications—such as the ACE inhibitors and antiplatelet drugs mentioned above—you can utilize online pharmacy resources like GoodRx or consult authoritative medical portals such as the American Heart Association