National Reptile Awareness Day

By: Jonathan Jones 10/21/2016

Some people have issues with our cold-blooded friends because of their scaly skin – or it just maybe snakes.

However it is National Reptile Awareness Day in Lake County. I’m not a snake fan either, but surely my favorite reptilian fiction character was Kaa from the Jungle Book. His voice alone used to make me giggle.

Ill tll you the one I don’t like. That GEICO Gecko. I don’t know something about him comes off extremely arrogant.

Well, just disregard that rant. But on National Reptile Awareness Day in Lake County, we house some of the most exotic animals at Wildlife Discovery.

Better yet this weekend is CROCtoberfest. CROCtoberfest at the Wildlife Discovery Center is a fun-filled event for all ages in a safe environment to meet live crocodiles. Jim Nesci, Illinois’ lone licensed gator owner, will be in attendance until noon and have with him Bubba the world famous American Alligator.

The expert staff and members of the Chicago Herpetological Society and the Madison Area Herpetological Society will give short talks about crocodiles and their kids. Take a look at a skeleton of the 24-foot saltwater crocodile – which is the largest-living terrestrial predator. There will also be kid-friendly activities, face painting, a story teller, craft vendors, food and refreshments.

The Wildlife Discovery Center is home to approximately 85 species of animals.

IN the reptile department here is a list of all of the reptiles they obtain

Crocodiles

• American Alligator
• Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman
• Morelet’s Crocodile
• Saltwater Crocodile
• Siamese Crocodile
• Spectacled Caiman

Lizards

• Asian Water Monitor
• Black Throated Monitor
• Blue Tongued Skink
• Crested Gecko
• Giant Arengine Tegu
• Gila Monster
• Jackson’s Chameleon
• Leaf-tailed Gecko
• Red Tegu
• Rhinoceros Iguana

Non Venomous Snakes

• Angolan Python
• Black Rat Snake
• Blue Racer
• Bullsnake
• Butler’s Garter Snake
• Cape Copher Snake
• Colombian Boa Constrictor
• Corn Snake
• Dumeril’s Boa
• Eastern Coachwhip
• Eastern Indigo Snake
• Earstern Indigo Snake
• Earstern Milksnake
• Emerald Tree Boa
• Everglades Ratsnake
• Great Plains Ratsnake
• Green Tree Python
• Indian Python
• Nelson’s Milksnake
• Peruvian Red-tailed Boa
• Red Milksnake
• Rhino Ratsnake
• Sinaloan Milksnake
• Speckled Kingsnake
• Western Fox Snake
• Western Hognose Snake

Continue here to view the venomous snakes and assorted turtles and tortoises at the Lake Forest center.

The event is on Sunday, October 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and is located at 1401 Middlefork Dr., Lake Forest.

Also if this wasn't enough cold blooded fun for you, Kids can get an up-close look at cold-blooded critters at "Reptiles and Amphibians," Citizens for Conservation's November Youth Education program. The program will be from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Barrington Hills Riding Center.