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EDMONTON SUN (Alberta) 13 January 06 Snake Pitt! Brave Brad Was Happy To Handle Slithery Bull Snakes (Sally Johnston)
This news just in - Brad Pitt is not afraid of snakes.
That's according to Alberta reptile wrangler Dean Harper, who took some of his wriggly critters to work alongside the Hollywood hunk on the set of The Assassination of Jesse James in Edmonton last year.
"There were three bull snakes, each about four feet long. Brad had to handle them," recalled Harper. "Bull snakes are not venomous.
"Brad wasn't at all afraid of them. In fact, he wanted to take them home at the end of the day."
Harper is owner of Wrappin About Reptiles, a collection of around 300 slithery creatures and creepy crawlies that he uses in educational shows at malls, schools and exhibitions.
His wildlife, ranging from a 14-foot Burmese python called Thing to a fingernail-sized baby tarantula spider, also make regular appearances in movies and commercials.
His contract prevents Harper giving further details about his day-long dealings with Pitt.
But he'll be toting one of the celebrity bull snakes and about 20 other reptiles and amphibians to the two-day Edmonton Pet Expo at Northlands this weekend.
The father of three from Olds, 200 km southwest of Edmonton, has been fascinated by snakes since he got a part-time job in a pet store when he was 11.
"The big myths are that snakes are slimy and that they are all venomous.
"But they're not. Pythons are my top love because of their size and sheer beauty."
Interest in reptiles as household pets has "skyrocketed" in recent years, said Harper, especially among people with allergies looking for fur-free animals.
Sadly, many owners don't know how to care properly for their cold-blooded roommates which may require a temperature-controlled environment and a lot of food.
Too often the creatures are abandoned when their owners tire of them.
"One summer we took in 73 iguanas.
"It was heartbreaking because about half of them had to be put down," said Harper.
Neither do people realize how quickly exotic pets can grow. A foot-long baby alligator, for example, may quadruple in size within a couple of years.
"My giant tortoise now weighs 100 pounds, eats 50 pounds of hay a week and goes to the toilet like a horse," said Harper.
During Edmonton Pet Expo, he hopes to spread the message that "some reptiles make nice pets and some don't."
Harper has an entertaining website, www.wrappinaboutreptiles.com.
Edmonton Pet Expo will include animal demonstrations, breeders, toys, food and training services.
Visitors should leave their own pets at home as they will not be allowed into the show.
It runs tomorrow, 10 a.m to 8 p.m and Sunday, 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Admission is $7; kids, $5.
More information at www.edmontonshows.com.
Brave Brad Was Happy To Handle Slithery Bull Snakes

who really cares if brad pitt is afraid of snakes or not.