Meet (Some Of) The Critters

Our animals require special care and we cannot guarantee a specific animal for a program. Often times, our animals need to be taken off programs for a much needed rest. We will provide you a suitable replacement for your program.

The Reptiles

Western Hognose Snakes
These harmless snakes will puff up then roll over and play dead when startled. They are found near wetlands although their numbers are declining.

Ball Python
All of our ball pythons are captive-bred. These gentle animals are disappearing in the wild due to over-hunting and habitat destruction. Native to Africa, they are now protected in several countries on the west coast. When startled, they curl into balls hiding their heads inside.

Red-Tailed Boa Constrictor
Found from Argentina to northern Mexico, this solitary nocturnal snake uses its heat-sensitive scales to locate its prey. They are excellent climbers and can reach over 13 feet in length and weigh up to 70 pounds. A healthy captive can live over 25 years!

Corn Snake
Commonly known as Rat Snakes, they are found in the southeastern part of the United States...from Texas to Florida. These constrictors are related to the Gopher Snakes.

Gopher Snake
You can find these snakes in your backyard. They are great mouse catchers. When frightened, their tail vibrates, making a sound like a rattlesnake. Don’t hurt them!

Mexican Black King Snake
This beautiful solid black snake comes from northwestern Mexico. It is active at night and its diet includes venomous snakes.

Blue-Tongue Skink
Found only in Australia, these amazing lizards live in a variety of habitats ranging from deserts to forests and mountainous areas. Their bright blue tongue is used in defensive postures.

Bearded Dragon
These lizards get their name from their "beard," an expandable throat pouch with spikey scales. Not being finicky eaters, they will consume large amounts of plants and insects. They come from Australia and are popular pets for the young reptile enthusiast.

European Legless Lizard
The largest member of the legless lizard family, the European Legless Lizard is found in southeastern Europe and moves by wiggling its body. They burrow underground and are often called glass lizards because they have the ability to drop their tails.

Fat-Tail Gecko
These lizards are native to West Africa and you can see right through their head! They lack sticky pads on their toes so they can’t climb and their name comes from the fat they store in their tails.

Leopard Gecko
Leopard Geckoes have sweet personalities and are popular as pets. You can see through their heads! Geckoes are great nocturnal hunters...feasting on bugs

Crested Gecko
At one time these geckoes were thought to be extinct until they were rediscovered in 1994. These tree-dwelling lizards are only found in the rainforest canopies of New Caledonia.

Box Turtle
A land dwelling turtle that is found in the United States, box turtles have a hinge on the bottom of their shell which allows them to completely withdraw their legs, tail, head and neck within the shell for protection from predators.

Green Iguana
Found from Central to South America, green iguanas can weigh up to 18 pounds and reach a length of 5-7 feet. They are mainly herbivorous feasting on leaves, flowers and fruit. Iguanas are excellent swimmers and tree climbers.

Russian Tortoise
Known by many names, this small tortoise is found in southern Russia to Afghanistan. Russian tortoises prefers dry open landscapes and they can live over 100 years!

Spur-Thighed Tortoise
The Spur-Thighed Tortoise (Sulcata Tortoise) gets its name from the thorny spurs on its back legs. They are found in deserts and dry savannahs and they are the 3rd largest species of tortoise in the world! They will reach over 2 feet in length and weigh 150 pounds.

Leopard Tortoise
The African Leopard tortoise is the 4th largest tortoise in the world and they can reach lengths of 2 feet and weigh over 80 pounds. These tortoises are found in sub-Saharan Africa grassland habitats.

The Birds

Meyer's Parrot
Native to central Africa, Meyer’s Parrots live in large flocks in moist woodland areas, Unlike most parrots, they make pleasant sounds. In captivity, they are quiet, affectionate and live about 35 years.

Illiger's Macaw
A smaller member of the macaw family, Illiger’s Macaws are highly intelligent. They come from South America and are now endangered in the wild.

Rainbow Lory
This beautiful colored bird is a small parrot from Australia. It has bristles on its tongue for drinking nectar and eating soft fruits.

Cockatiel
The smallest member of the Cockatoo family, these popular birds originally come from the bush lands of Australia.

The Amphibians

Painted Frog
This small amphibian comes from Malaysia. Also known as a Chubby Frog, they blow themselves up like a balloon to keep from being eaten.

Malaysian Leaf Frog
A master of mimicry, the leaf frog or horned toad comes out at night. The colors and protruding eyelids help to imitate a dead leaf on the ground. They are hard to see!

White's Tree Frog
Native to Australia and New Guinea, this frog can live up to 16 years in captivity. It is sometimes called a Dumpy Tree Frog.

White Lipped Tree Frog
Also known as Giant Tree Frogs, they are the largest tree frogs in the world. They come from the rainforests of Australia and New Guinea.

American Toad
Our most common amphibian in America, toads have no claws and no teeth. Their long sticky tongue grabs anything they can fit in their mouth. They have glands on their skin that make them taste very bad. You cannot get warts from handling a toad!

Tomato Frog
Found only on the island of Madagascar, tomato frogs squirt glue out of their skin when they are frightened.

Tiger Salamanders
Once commonly found throughout North America, these amphibians are nocturnal. They consume a lot of insects in a single night.

The Intervebrates

Giant Millipede
There is no animal in the world with more legs than a millipede. They have two pairs of legs on each segment...over 200 in all! They eat dead leaves and make soil. Don’t eat them...they have a repugnant smell and taste.

Hissing Cockroaches
These insects perform the most important job in nature...they recycle! Their diet consists of dead leaves that they turn into soil. To avoid being eaten, they hiss like a snake and wear a 'snake-like' mask over their head. They are only found on the island of Madagascar.

Indian Walking Stick
As a common insect used in science laboratories, these Walking Sticks have been in space! They are normally found in Asia and cause a lot of destruction to crops.

Australian Walking Stick
Masters of disguise, these insects live in the eucalyptus forests of Australia. They mimic a dead leaf during the day and roam the branches at night.

Rosy Hair Tarantula
More bugs are consumed by spiders than any other type of predator. The Rosy Hair Tarantula comes from the dry regions of Chile. Their prickly hair makes them unpleasant to eat.

The Mammals

Pygmy Hedgehogs Pygmy Hedgehogs come from Africa. When they roll into little balls, their poky quills protect them from potential enemies. Their curious noses are always in search of their favorite food ... mealworms!

Chinchilla
Chinchillas live high in the Andes mountain of South America at elevations above 18,000 feet. Their thick fur makes them the softest animals in the world. Because of this, our chinchillas cannot be used for programs in the summer months.

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, one finds it attached to the rest of the world." 
- John Muir