Betty 
Once again we viewed a website of well-intentioned reptile lovers who insist on placing large pythons around audience members’ necks. While they may deliver excellent information, as well as attempting to instill a respect for these misunderstood creatures, their message degrades into showmanship. We’ve written previous articles that promote respect for the animal, as well …
Occasionally, people refer to our snakes as our “pets.” While we value them and care for them, we never consider them as pets. Instead they are our “education animals.” When a child tells us, after our reptile program, that he (we’ve never had this thought from a girl) thinks it would be cool to have …
Is a Gila monster a monitor lizard? This question was posed to me recently when we worked at a festival with our snakes and skulls. “No, they’re not monitors,” I told the visitor who had been inspecting the Gila monster skull. “Monitor lizards are defined by their forked tongues.” Because I hadn’t really studied up …
“Will it bite?” kids often ask us regarding our snakes when we present our reptile program at schools. Both Chuck and I have been bitten by nonvenomous snakes, and it was most often our own fault, either reaching into their cage with fingers that are scented with mice or startling a sleeping snake without first …
“Don’t let one come near me!” The young man who flagged our refuge truck to wait for road construction had asked us where we were headed. When we told him we were going onto the Refuge to track wolves, at first he thought that was “cool,” but after some thought, he added, fearfully, that he …
Working with the younger generation inspires us when we witness young people who strive to fulfill their interests and ambitions. In past blogs, we mentioned one such young man with a passion for snakes. Gabe Brown continues to present snake programs to students of his former teachers and continues to impress these teachers with his …
There was a time years ago when we considered hiking an activity requiring little more preparation and thought than strapping on our boots and hitting the trail. In light of the recent death in Yellowstone National Park of an “experienced” hiker, we realize that many others still maintain that attitude, regardless of the signs posted …