Snakes invade Ganado HS, bite staffer

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

GANADO — Numerous snake sightings and one rattlesnake bite caused the Ganado Unified School District to release students early on Tuesday.

On Monday, a GUSD staff member was bitten by a rattlesnake while answering a call from a teacher at the school housing complex at Burnside.

The staff member who was bitten was treated at a local health care facility and is now recovering, the school district said.

The district did not reveal the number of sightings that occurred, but it was enough to release students and staff other than administration, maintenance and support services on Tuesday and to issue a statement to parents, students and staff on Thursday.

Most of the sightings have occurred on and near the main and high school campuses, the district said.

The superintendent’s office said that the district has arranged for a cultural consultant to conduct a cleansing ceremony for the school and district community.

The school district blames the heavy rains that have caused weeds and bushes to grow rapidly which it said contributes to the sudden increase of rodents and snakes in the region.

The district is continuing to take precautionary measures, it said, with maintenance crews and temporary workers cutting weeds and bushes around the school compounds, especially in the areas where the snake sightings have occurred.

District employees who reside at school housing complexes have been given until Sept. 3 to remove all weeds, bushes and debris from their units.

“Rodent and snake repellent is being placed all around the school premises,” the district stated.

The district is asking parents and community members to teach children to stay aware and away from areas where rodent populations may exist.