DAILY REVEILLE (Lousiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana) 24 October 05 Snake Session Slither - Museum hosts reptile program (Amy Brittain)
Some slithery reptiles stole the show inside the Museum of Natural Science in Foster Hall Saturday morning.
Young children and snake enthusiasts gathered for the museum’s “Snakes Alive” program hosted by evolutionary biology Ph.D. student Josh Meyer. The program featured details on snakes’ evolution, daily lives and predatory behavior.
Meyer showed a PowerPoint presentation and shared his 6-foot tree snake.
“It’s a given that kids love snakes,” Meyer said. “This is to show them that snakes aren’t some evil beasts.”
Marianne Konikoff regularly attends the museum’s monthly programs. She said she loves snakes.
“Snakes are my favorite,” Konikoff said. “I want to have one as a pet, but my mom won’t let me.”
Konikoff said she plans to attend a college in Boston to major in herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians.
Another self-proclaimed future herpetologist is 7-year-old Louis Laville.
Laville, proud owner of “Max,” the leopard gecko, brought his pet to the program in a red, yellow and blue carrier.
“I like lizards better than snakes because you can handle them better,” Laville said.
In addition to Meyer’s pet snake, several other snakes were available for guests to hold.
Shannon Guidry, Bluebonnet Swamp program manager, brought snakes from the nature center.
“More people are afraid of snakes than anything else,” Guidry said. “So many people kill snakes, so this is important to teach kids how to treat snakes.”
After the program, children were encouraged to participate in reptile-themed arts and crafts.
Snake Session Slither - Museum hosts reptile program