>>I agree there are many stupid examples of reptiles in public, such as the 12-foot Burm in the shopping cart you cited (what the heck was that guy thinking!?). However, going with "never" (even for a kid's *small* pet snake or lizard) is partly what has caused this crisis. People who never see a reptile outside of an education show mistakenly assume they aren't kept as pets or nearly as popular as they are -- and the "never ever in public" stance, even when handled with common sense and small critters, is partly what feeds that problem. Have a brain in when and where? *Absolutely*, you are 110% correct? But never? Crawling into self-imposed exile, where we feel we can only view our pets by flashlight in locked rooms at midnight, will do the help community no favors.
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>>Cliff Earle

I agree, Cliff. I take my snakes out in my yard ALL THE TIME, and the neighborhood kids, and often their parents, always gather around and ask questions. It's like an impromptu presentation. I even helped the neighbor across the street get over her ridiculous fear of snakes. (She seriously thought a 3 foot black racer was going to attack her kids, even after she saw it bolt away when I came within 10 feet of it.) But eventually she got to the point where she actually petted my indigo snake. The problem isn't people going outside with their snakes, the problem is perpetuating the fear of snakes. Heck, I would much rather take my chances wallking near a guy with a python than a guy with big dog.

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