Phillip Elden On How To Handle A Snake Bite

Do you know what to do if you’re bitten by a snake? According to Phillip Elden, there is a way to handle it, and there are several things that you should not do. 

 

Phillip Elden explains that snakes can be either venomous or nonvenomous. Bites from either can cause swelling, bleeding, and an open wound that many people believe should be taken care of with a tourniquet. This is a mistake that may cause someone to lose a body part. Phillip Elden says that another mistake is trying to open the wound with a knife to remove the venom. This can cause or further an infection. Under no circumstances should someone try to suck the venom from an open wound; this only works in the movies. 

 

If possible, try and identify the snake. However, you should not try to pick it up or trap it as this can put you or other members of your party at immediate risk of an additional snakebite. Other things that you should avoid if you’ve been bitten by a snake are: 

• Immersing the wound in water. According to Phillip Elden, you should not put ice or water on snakebites. 
• Drinking alcohol to numb the pain. Alcohol can thin your blood, which can result in heavier bleeding. Further, drinking alcohol can numb the senses and slow your response time, meaning that you may be more injured than you realize. 
• Drinking caffeine. There is a good chance that your heart rate will already speed up if you’ve been bitten by a snake. This can be caused by venom or adrenaline. It’s best to avoid drinking caffeinated beverages, which also increase your heart rate. 

Quit Feeding Ducks From Your Pantry

Oregon native and Native Oregon founder Phillip Elden says that ducks should never be fed bread. 

 

Kids across the country get excited every spring to throw breadcrumbs to their quacking little buddies. However, according to conservationist Phillip Elden, this can have negative consequences on ducks and their environment. 

 

While no one will dispute the deliciousness of warm toast, bread contains a high level of carbohydrates with very few nutritional elements. As such, when ducks are hand-fed bread more often than nutrient-dense options, their health can suffer. High levels of carbohydrates wreak havoc on avian digestive systems and can cause them to defecate more often. Unfortunately, added levels of stool on the ground can increase localized levels of avian botulism, which can cause death. 

How To Camp With Respect | Phillip Elden

Camping is one of the most popular pastimes in the United States (and throughout the world). However, not everyone fully understands camping etiquette. Today, Phillip Elden shares a few rules you should follow to be a good steward to the earth. 

 

Obey All Local Laws 

 

Just because you are off the grid does not mean that you are out of reach of local law enforcement agencies. You can’t do whatever you want, and theft, assault, vandalism, trespassing, and other crimes are still enforceable by the local municipality. 

It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane

Look up in the sky, is it a bird or a plane, or is it both? Unfortunately, the answer is often both. According to Phillip Elden, birds and planes don’t mix, and every year pigeons, doves, shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors are all at risk of a high-speed collision, and these midair mishaps can put humans in danger as well. 

 

Going back to as far as 1990, there were nearly 2000 bird strikes per year reported to the Federal Aviation Administration. Fast-forward to 2013, and there were nearly 10 times more. Airplanes are most likely to hit birds during migration season. July through October, birds and their young fledglings are often heading south. This high level of immature flyers is no doubt part of the problem. 

Phillip Elden Discusses Common Invasive Species

Oregon has thousands of unique animals, many of which have lived on the land as long as records have been kept and for many years prior. But according to conservation specialist Phillip Elden, many species have been introduced and take a toll on the natural flora and fauna. 

 

Q: Is the American bullfrog and Oregon native? 

 

Phillip Elden: While the American bullfrog is common in the United States, it is not an amphibian native to the region. Bullfrogs, which can grow to more than six inches in length and present with a brown and green pattern, are often released into the wild after being purchased as pets. While Oregon has many native frog species, the large and aggressive American bullfrog preys upon snakes, fish, small turtles, and even other frogs. 

A Q&A with Phillip Elden | Conservation Careers: Forestry

Forestry is a major component of wildlife and land conservation, says Phillip Elden. And with more than 30,000 people employed by the USDA Forest Service, it’s also an in-demand career. 

 

Q: What is a forester? 

 

Phillip Elden: A forester is a person that spends his or her career working outdoors in an effort to conserve and improve woodland areas. They may also work in the lab or classroom researching and teaching the next generation of conservationists. 

Phillip Elden: Is There A Difference Between Compostable And Biodegradable?

In America, we tend to generate about five pounds of trash per person each day. Unfortunately, much of this winds up in landfills. According to Phillip Elden, this is terrible for the environment and the animals that inhabit it. 

 

As we continue to learn more and more about how waste affects the environment, people have started to pay more attention to biodegradable and compostable materials. But, what’s the difference? 

 

According to Phillip Elden, a biodegradable material, such as potato peels or paper, will break down over time naturally. Biodegradable materials are eaten by fungi and bacteria. This does not mean that all biodegradable materials are good for the earth. Styrofoam is one example. While Styrofoam is fully biodegradable, it can take 500 years or more to be completely broken down. Aluminum cans take up to 100 years.