Education

One of our greatest joys are the opportunities we get to educate kids about snakes and reptiles in general. Sometimes we team up with other breeders for these talks. We like to start off our talks with several questions: Are you afraid of snakes? What are some of the reasons people are afraid of snakes? Are all snakes bad? Are all snakes dangerous? What would happen if all snakes disappeared? These questions get the kids to think and ask questions. We like to address the fear issues first. A lot of kids are fearful simply because their parents are. When you can get them to really think about why they are afraid, they will often overcome their fears by themselves. It is absolutely wonderful to see the expression of fear turn into one of curiosity and awe.

Next, we like to talk about pet store animals. We really stress research, research, research. We encourage the kids to know the requirements of the animals before they purchase them, as well as the requirements when the animals are fully grown. Most kids do not realize how long these animals can live, and what a commitment it is when they purchase one. They need to know about the cute little ball python that can grow up to be 6+ pound animal that will not fit in to a 10 gallon tank. We talk about captive bred vs. wild caught animals, and the importance of good Herp Veterinarian. In our area, there is a not a reptile rescue and many surrendered animals are simply destroyed. Even the kids that are afraid of snakes find this upsetting. It really makes them look at the animals in a whole different light.

The majority of our educational talks focus on native species. We like to show the kids some of the animals they might counter in their own yards. We talk to them about safety when encountering a snake, and what to do and/or not do in these situations. We encourage them to leave the animals alone and just observe (even if the animal is a dead snake). We also give them a worksheet to help identify the venomous species in our area. It is amazing how many of these kids think all snakes are "poisonous". It is a wonderful thing when kids that were scared when you first walk in, start asking about having a pet snake when you leave. We have a stack full of letters from kids we have spoken to telling us how much they've learned. It makes it all worth it.  Educating the next generation is the key to preserving our hobby.