Those visiting Penitentiary Glen Reservation this weekend had a hands-on opportunity to learn about reptiles as part of Lake Metroparks’ “Snakes, Turtles and More: Hungry Hungry Herps” program.
The free program took place on August 25 from noon to 4 p.m. at 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road in Kirtland.
According to Nicholas Gaye, Lake Metropark’s naturalist and interpreter, the “Snakes, Turtles and More” exhibit has been running for a decade.
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“It started as Snakes and Such and then evolved when I took it over two years ago,” he said. “Our biggest evolution was acquiring Herps Alive (The Herps Alive Foundation), our conservation partner. Before that, we were with the Northeast Ohio Herps Association. That has since disbanded. We are fortunate that one of our colleagues works for Herps Alive. She and her father co-founded it and have been coming here ever since. It’s a blessing.”
Last year the event attracted 2,500 people. This year Gaye expects 2,500 to 4,000.
The event is designed to help visitors understand that reptiles are animals to be appreciated and not to be feared, Gaye said.
“There are people who are afraid of reptiles, whether they’re snakes or slimy frogs,” he said. “They may not want to pick them up or touch them. They’re often stigmatized because they’re slimy and scaly and crawl around, but Herps Alive allows people to try them out for themselves and show them that they’re not so scary after all. There’s no reason to be afraid of them because they do a lot of good for us.”
The event featured an interactive, life-sized game with hungry hippos for children and visitors could also take part in guided habitat herping adventures with naturalists.
“The kids go out with nets, get a little dirty and have a little summer fun before they go back to school,” Gaye noted. “We get a lot of positive feedback.”
While the event will continue to be called “Snakes, Turtles and More,” its focus will shift in the future, Gaye said.
“This one focuses on the food web and where reptiles are in the food web and how important they are to that food web and the ecosystems around them,” he said. “It’s just grown and evolved. And it seems to be doing that year after year.”
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