New Yorkers have cause to be a little on edge today–an Egyptian Cobra has escaped his exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. Though officials believe he slithered into the warmth of one of the buildings on zoo property, it’s of little comfort to the Zoo’s more squeamish neighbors–especially now that they’ve been told it could be WEEKS before they catch up to him. I feel safe enough on Staten Island, though, and have had a few belly laughs reading the tweets from the stray snake. Apparently when one does escape the Bronx Zoo, “open a Twitter account” is first the to-do list.

Indiana Jones and I have one thing in common: We don’t like snakes. In fact, the only way you could get me to like a snake is if it were…wait for it… a college mascot. Check out this reptiles that get the crowd roaring on campus.

SNAKES

Striker, the Cobra, lives at Coker College, Hartsville, SC. (See his charming self at the right.)

The Cobras also are the mascot of Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, VA

Mocsie, the Water Moccasin, slithers its way around Florida Southern College.

DRAGONS

Mario the Magnificent is in residence at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. (View him in his splendor on the right.)

These feisty firebreathers are also loved by sports fans at Minnesota State-Moorhead, Tiffin University, and Lane College.

GATORS

Gators are the mascot of University of Florida, the birthplace of the much-loved sports drink, Gatorade.

Allegheny College, University of Houston-Downtown, and San Francisco State University also claim toothy green gator as their mascots.

AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST…

The University of California-Santa Cruz pays homage to the Banana Slug at its athletic events. (Too gross for a photo. Seriously, UCSC, what were you thinking?)

–Barbara Bellesi