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LINCOLN — Snakes are not out to get you.

That’s the message Dan Fogell wants Nebraskans to hear. But there is a good reason to be cautious, and Fogell believes that caution may go deeper than just common sense.

“Some research came out stating the forward-facing eyes — the binocular vision — that primates have is the result of constantly being on the lookout for snakes,” Fogell said.

That fear of and interest in all things that slither through our world has driven Fogell throughout most of his life. The Southeast Community College instructor will visit central Nebraska for a presentation at 3 p.m. Sunday at Big Bend Audubon Society’s monthly meeting at Rowe Sanctuary.

“I’ll be talking about the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in the state,” Fogell said. “I’m bringing mostly snakes because that’s what wigs out people the most. People are spooked by them but also intrigued by them.”

Nebraska has three different types of rattlesnakes, Fogell said, even though most people think there is only one.

To help improve the knowledge base of the critters he loves, Fogell has authored a soon-to-be-released field guide to amphibians and reptiles in Nebraska.

The most recent guide prior to his was written in 1941.

“We’ve discovered several new species of amphibians and reptiles in the state since then, so we definitely need an updated version,” he said.

Fogell plans on letting children in the audience hold or touch a snake, especially if they’ve never done that before.

“And then we can watch the moms and dads move to the back of the room as their fearless kids come up front and confront their parents’ fears,” the author laughed.

As a child growing up in Providence, R.I., Fogell started down his career path with an interest in ancient reptiles.

“I think everybody in my field starts off the same way: They’re infatuated with dinosaurs at first because that’s a first introduction to anything reptilian,” he said. “If you’ve got an infatuation with dinosaurs and you want to collect as many of those little plastic models as you possibly can and you build you own diorama in your back yard, chances are you’ll be a scientist when you grow up.”

Next, one of his uncles brought Fogell, then age 9, a toad.

“That was my first pet amphibian,” he said.

After that a friend found two snakes, a green snake and a garter snake, and gave them to Fogell.

“After that, frogs and toads took a back seat,” he added. “I’ve been interested in snakes ever since.”

Along with teaching and writing about reptiles, Fogell operates a rescue mission from his home in Lincoln. People who have reptiles they don’t want often contact zoos, and the zoos call Fogell.

“I’ll take the animals and try and find responsible homes for them,” he said.

Attitudes towards snakes run deep, Fogell believes, but most people react without understanding the creatures.

“It’s out of complete ignorance that people kill snakes,” he said. “There’s a difference between having one show up on your doorstep and walking five miles away from your home to find one on a ridge top. But people kill them regardless of whether they’re in their back yards or out in the woods in the natural habit.”

One of the reasons Fogell does presentations on snakes and reptiles is to instill some sense of responsibility in the next generation of landowners, farmers and ranchers.

“This generation is a lost cause,” he explain. “Once they understand the importance of killing a snake, in their mind, they’re not going to stop.”

e-mail to:

rick.brown@kearneyhub.com

WHEN AND WHERE

Dan Fogell presents a program based on his book, “A Field Guide to on the Amphibians and Snakes of Nebraska,” at 3 p.m. Sunday at Rowe Sanctuary, 44450 Elm Island Rd, Gibbon. 308-468-5282. The event is part of the Big Bend Audubon meeting. Free admission.