It is very rewarding to introduce children to snakes. Couple things~

I put mine in pillow cases (tight knot yanked in the top) and use an ice chest to move them. As long as I load the chest in the house where the temp is good it maintains a reasonably good temp when we go outside. Don't open and close the chest too much~ and don't leave them in there too long~ an hour shouldn't be a problem~ but I would open it for fresh air exchange if any longer.

Bring a back pack if you have to make any stops. Just put the pillow cases in the back pack~ and run your errands. No one is likely to ask what is in the back pack (Just sling it over your shoulder~ don't act liek it is full of snakes!)~ and if they do ask~ I usually tell they should not ask if they didn't want to know!

Make all the kids sit down BEFORE you bring out the snakes. Explain that if there is any horseplay the snakes will go back in their bag and go home. Have prepared some interesting facts~ you know~ explain that snakes "smell the air" with their tongues by using the jacobsons organ in the rood of their mouths~ that snakes have no ears but can "Feel" sounds (Vibrations)~ that they are dicephelous with two of each organ like us but only use one of each~ bring a shed skin to pass around and point out the eye caps.

Be sure to bring some hand sanitizer with you. Make everyone use it before they touch the snakes (you don't know what they touched last)and make everyone use it after handling the snakes (explain that snakes have no legs to step over any feces in their enclosure so you should always wash up after handling)

It will be fun!
Good Luck
-----
Cheryl Marchek
AKA JM
Check out my website at:
The Red Dragons Den

[ Hide Replies ]

• education - jtclark, Thu Oct 7 23:01:09 2004
• RE: education - snake_boy311, Fri Oct 8 03:37:51 2004
• RE: education - JM, Fri Oct 8 08:22:25 2004
• RE: education - cowtownherper, Fri Oct 8 14:11:53 2004
• One more point - cowtownherper, Fri Oct 8 17:06:10 2004