SCRUB HAZARDS: ANSWERS FOR THE ANXIOUS

Most likely, your trips out into the scrub will be free from accidents or injury. Use common sense, be observant, show respect for living things and you will probably never face the potential hazards below. Hazards include, but are not limited to the following:

Lightning can strike well ahead of a storm and up to 30 minutes after a storm has passed. Always be cautious if the weather looks threatening.

Heat/dehydration can be a serious problem, especially if your class is outside for hours. Always take water with you and encourage your students to wear hats.

Sunburn can be a threat any time of year. The reflective sand in scrub can intensify the sun's rays. Use sunscreen and wear hats!

Cactus spines hurt!! Stay on the trails when possible and always watch to see where your next step will be.

Poison ivy is not adapted to scrub, but can be found in disturbed areas adjacent to scrub. Keep your eyes open for both the leaves and the "hairy" vines that grow up tree trunks.

Paper wasps often build small nests on palmetto fronds and can be difficult to see. Identify those students who are allergic to insect stings and be prepared to take action if someone gets stung.

Yellow jackets are ground nesters. Be alert to large numbers of yellow jackets you see moving in and out of a small hole. They may try and protect their nest if you get too close. There are solitary, ground-nesting wasps that are banded like yellow jackets, but do not live in large colonies. These solitary wasps never attack.

Saddleback caterpillars can be found chewing on oak and hickory leaves in spring, summer, and early fall. Their poisonous spines can deliver a painful sting. Scotch tape helps lift bristles off tender skin.

Diamondback rattlesnakes are very rare in scrub and instead prefer pine flatwoods. Except on cool winter mornings, rattlesnakes would probably flee in response to the chatter and vibrations of excited students.

Coral snakes are usually hidden under the sand and have sometimes been mistaken for scarlet king snakes. Although coral snakes are the most poisonous snake in Florida, they are extremely docile and rarely bite. To be safe, be sure to watch from a distance!

Velvet ants are solitary wasps. They are easy to spot by their bright red markings and the way they race around on the sand. Velvet ants aren't aggressive, but will sting if handled. Watch them, but don't pick them up!

Ticks and chiggers aren't easy to spot but they can be easy to pick up! Sprinkle powdered sulfur (available at drugstores) or spray insect repellent on your socks, shoes, and calves. Try stuffing long pants into your socks to help keep these critters from crawling up your legs.

Dead animals are often very interesting to observe, but can harbor bacteria and disease. Use plastic gloves if you plan on handling one and wash your hands well afterwards.

Some mushrooms can be deadly poisonous if you eat them. Students should never put wild mushrooms in their mouths and should wash their hands after handling them.

Holes made by animals (concealed gopher tortoise holes, armadillo digging) can be hazardous if students aren't watching where their next step will be.

When exploring scrub, students should wear long pants, sturdy shoes, and a hat. White or light-colored shirts reflect the sunlight and are more comfortable on sunny days than dark ones, which absorb light.