By Angela Brown

Reptile show draws a crowd at N.B. library

Jul 7, 2017 | 10:00 AM

Battlefords area youth had a chance to get to know a little about reptiles during a free show at North Battleford library Thursday.

Wrangler Elisa, whose real name is Elisa Wilkie, is the owner of Sask Reptile Shows.

She gave youth as well as visitors of all ages an introductory lesson into the world of reptiles during the event.

“We bring the educational program to help kids better preserve conservation through education, and get a better understanding of the animals that we can see — not only in captivity in stores, but in the wild — and how to interact with them in the wild.”

Wilkie said during the reptile shows, she tries to teach youngsters how to handle frogs in the wild, for example, and a little about how to know what is safe and what is not safe in the reptile world.

ACAC bound

North Stars' Medernach talks commitment to NAIT Ooks

6h ago

Rustlers Volleyball

Crusaders' Bell excited for next chapter with Lakeland College

Apr 24, 2024

Nothing but Net

Vikings' standouts ready for national stage with Team Saskatchewan

Apr 24, 2024

About 170 people attended the library show.

Wilkie brought 12 different reptiles for the event. Some of the visitors included a red-eared slider (turtle), a red-footed tortoise, a charcoal cornsnake, a milk snake, a bullsnake, a crested gecko, a bearded dragon (lizard), a green iguana, a tarantula, and an African bullfrog,   

Sask Reptile Shows partners with Shell Shocked Turtle Rescue, but Sask Reptile Shows is the only certified reptile rescue agency in the province. 

Wilkie said some reptiles can also make “wonderful pets.”

She said the crested gecko can make a good pet, as an example, and it only eats every second day.

“If I don’t hold her for a week, she is not going to complain,” Wilkie said. “[But] if you don’t pay attention to your dog every single day, what’s going to happen? You are going to get that destruction.”

“Reptiles are not like that,” she said. “They are very laid back. They are not an animal that is going to [think]: ‘That’s my mom.’”

The reptile show has visited North Battleford each year for the past three years.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW