Reptile Outreach Ideas??

I've done a lot of presentations, mainly working with master naturalist programs - outside of schools. One thing you need to know is to be very careful when doing presentations. Snakes, as docile as they may be in your hands, are unpredictable at times. Even a small bite from a baby ball python to a participant can result in not only bad press, but also in unwanted attention to the reptile community, law suits on your end, and loads of liability. Just like an owner is liable for a dog bite - which can be drastic - snake owners share the same liability if a snake bites someone in their class. Now WE KNOW a bite is simply a needle prick that is to be laughed about later, but todays sue happy america is not to be tested! Anything from "distress" to future anxiety attacks from seeing a snake on the TV, whether its real or not, poses a threat. SO be careful.

Thanks for all the suggestions!!

Are there any species in particular that you think should be included in school presentations?? I'm still building my collection, so I only have a Normal Ball Python so far. I want to add an Enchi and an albino, and am planning on getting a tarantula in the next few months...

Some Cresties would probably be pretty good me thinks...anything else??

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Originally Posted by reptileexperts

I've done a lot of presentations, mainly working with master naturalist programs - outside of schools. One thing you need to know is to be very careful when doing presentations. Snakes, as docile as they may be in your hands, are unpredictable at times. Even a small bite from a baby ball python to a participant can result in not only bad press, but also in unwanted attention to the reptile community, law suits on your end, and loads of liability. Just like an owner is liable for a dog bite - which can be drastic - snake owners share the same liability if a snake bites someone in their class. Now WE KNOW a bite is simply a needle prick that is to be laughed about later, but todays sue happy america is not to be tested! Anything from "distress" to future anxiety attacks from seeing a snake on the TV, whether its real or not, poses a threat. SO be careful.

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Definitely something to keep in mind. While I had my booth at the earth fair, I made a point to put snakes back in their enclosures at certain times, with a hide provided, to give them some down time and prevent stress and possible bites. The kids kept wanting to hold them, but accepted my answer of, "They need to take a nap right now." I also kept a close eye on all animals being handled, watching for even the smallest signs of stress or fear, so I could intervene if necessary and keep the animals feeling safe and comfortable.

I agree with all of that, as well. Even in the smallish groups that I've done (<12), I only let the kiddos pet the herps. It's just really hard to judge a gentle hold from a squeeze sometimes...and it only takes a second. Also, these are MY pets and I don't want to traumatize them any more than I would want to traumatize a child.

My bearded dragon is my "show pony." Nothing is as chilled out and tolerant as he is. The leos are pretty cool, too. I just worry about a tail grab with the leos, so it's the first thing I say!

I do presentations for elementary schools. A few months ago I did an educational lecture on snakes to the entire second grade class of one of the local schools. Kids were super psyched about it, and actually retained information and continued to ask how Rosca [the adult classic female I brought] was doing. They were allowed to come up and stroke her back (her head was over my shoulder) with two fingers. Did not have a single kid that declined to do so out of fear- even the kiddos that were scared to touch her ended up changing their minds and doubling back. It was an extremely rewarding experience for me, and I intend on doing it again in my new location.

(background: the kiddos used Germ-X after, Rosca used to be a classroom pet for a middle school, went class-to-class in small controlled groups rather than a huge auditorium)

Educate whenever you have the opportunity to; that's what I do. I love answering questions about the snakes, and after seeing me handle them or talking about them, in my experience people become genuinely interested and less afraid. If I have the snakes with me, they usually ask to pet them. :)

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

Are there any species in particular that you think should be included in school presentations?? I'm still building my collection, so I only have a Normal Ball Python so far. I want to add an Enchi and an albino, and am planning on getting a tarantula in the next few months...

Some Cresties would probably be pretty good me thinks...anything else??

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King cobra?...jk. lol.

A variety is good.

I'd recommend a corn/rat snake of some kind and perhaps some type of king/milk snake. BPs are great cause you can show people that because it's labeled "python" doesn't mean it's "big and menacing". Sand boas would probably be a good example for the same idea. Obviously a RTB, I think a BRB would be awesome.

For lizards: bearded dragon and leopard gecko, chameleons might be cool for show only.

Turtles for thought: some type of tortoise like a small sulcatta or box turtle. If you go aquatic, red-eared slider or diamond back terrapin.

Rosy boas can be good "show and tell" Snakes too. they tend to be pretty laid back and easy going.
At my work we have some Snakes used for public outreach. They include a rosy boa, Cal King, and sinaloan (sp?) Milk snake. Used to have a gopher snake but it was too nippy. Also have a2 stripe garter snake, but it's too shy for handling.

This is something I want to do some day, but right now I only have my one ball python. I have showed her to kids of my moms coworkers and tried to do a little education, but mostly it was just hanging out with the snake and showing that she wasn't scary.

back at the end of 2011 I posted an add on Craigslist under pets. asking for people to join me in education on reptiles since all I had was ball pythons and not much money to buy anything else. got a pretty good group together with what I was looking for. I attend an Assemblies of God church and they all have ranger kids which is like the boy scotts (also noticed by the militery as is the boy scotts) they have to earn badges and we did a presentation at my church one wednesday night for the ranger kids for them to earn points towards there wildlife badge. I used to go this place in galveston while I was homeless the offered NA AA, and Mental health groups. a couple of us from the group I got together went there to present and talk about how our animals was therepy to us. also orgenized presentions in libraries and schools we just networked with people we knew.

^^^THAT is a great idea!! Instead of acquiring more animals, why not pool together animals with someone else! Transport, set up and everything else will be easier. Then, if this doesn't work out, you haven't put a ton of extra money into it.