Reptile Outreach Ideas??

[sorraia]

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.

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.