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Great snake place to visit

Alli_Draggy

Alli_Draggy

Wadjet's family
Last week, for Alli's 9th birthday, we went to the Kentucky reptile zoo, which is in the Natural Bridge State park. They primarily have venomous snakes which they milk for venom for research and antivenin-over 2000 snakes currently (plus a few other reptiles for education purposes), and also breed snakes for other zoos.

They're such nice people! Usually they stop doing regular tours in late fall because of weather (and I can see why), but were willing to show us around. They have multiple buildings with different climate conditions, both for their display animals and the larger collection kept off display. For a lot of the buildings it was "everyone get inside quickly". Their North American collection was happily brumating, although a rattlesnake poked his nose out and buzzed his displeasure at us waking him up.

We got to see a wide range of snakes, including watching the keepers move an 11 foot king cobra so they could do a clean out of his usual viv-he wasn't a happy camper, either. All told, four different cobras hooded up, including the Egyptian Cobra Alli sponsored (apparently that specific cobra seems to enjoy putting on a show-according to his keepers, he does so all the time). We also got to watch a spitting cobra shed. Alli asked and was able to take home a piece of king cobra shed and a complete desert horned viper shed to look at under her microscope.

We got to learn a lot about what their research students do (and that when you clean a spitting cobra's tank, you need to wear face protection, just in case) and how they handle the husbandry of so many hot snakes (seeing all the double boxing and locks I think said more than anything else that this isn't a game, even if those little vipers are cute).

Along with the shed skins, Alli brought home a rattlesnake fang (sealed in resin) and the guide to North American venomous snakes written by the program director.

We also got to meet a Dumeril's boa up close and personal-a sweet snake.

It's a great program-if you have a chance to visit-do so.

Here's the photos we took. I don't know if you'll be able to see them or not (my mother set up the album)-I'm Donna DeVore Metler if anyone can't and wants me to add them as friends so they can.

https://www.facebook.com/doreen.devore/media_set?set=a.741278442568035&type=1
 
I sent you a request!

My kids would love to visit the Kentucky Reptile Zoo. We visited the SD Reptile Gardens this past August and that was a blast. I have those pictures on my FB page, if you want to see them.
 
Jim Harrison is a neat guy, and has forgotten more about hots than I know. I doubt he works much with the public these days, he's pretty busted up from all the snake bites. If you did see him, he's the one with a limp and jacked up fingers. But many, many lives have been saved because of his work.
 
We started out talking about the stray cats that have moved in, but got to hear a few snake in the field stories (basically, eager kids shouldn't pick up copperheads ;). )- he didn't stay out long, but seemed really nice, and it's a great program.
 
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