Taking BTS out in public/BTS in educational shows

[critterguy]

Just curious how many people have taken BTS places or used them in educational shows? I did a "reptile party" for a friends students and lately have been been taking my guy(Billy-short from Bill-un-goora...the name of the blue tongue lizard in the Larrakia language spoken by the aboriginal people of the area around Darwin NT) out to places to enjoy the sun. I've ended up doing many impromptu educational presentations for people. It is amazing people's diverse reactions. Many people think he's a snake-but then calm a bit on realizing he was a lizard(i shudder to think what would happen if I actually had a snake). A goodly number of people(especially girls) are captivated by him-and his calmness and cobalt blue tongue in the sun definetly makes some converts. The other end of the spectrum are a few people who know exactly what he is-or that he is a skink. Said people frequently are observers of our local alligator lizards/skinks/bluebellies or else have a bearded dragon at home.

He travels in a reusable cloth shopping bag with an old T shirt from the cage for him to snuggle into. Lined with a paper bag in case of an accident. Its interesting some people on here have mentioned their BTS prefer carrying containers they can see out of. My guy will usually go to sleep or else cease moving after burrowing under the T shirt-seems that that would be less stressful.

[Fatal_S]

I do a lot of shows and outings with my guys. I have certain skinks that I prefer to take (usually the bigger, calmer ones, though Jenga also goes just for the laughs he gets as he tries to kill me), and I've learned a lot about each skink's preferences and attitude. I really enjoy doing an expo table for hands-on education, and often get a free table at the Manitoba Expo because people enjoy my table so much.

BTS definitely seem to be great for bridging the fear gap between snakes and lizards. I get a lot of fear at first from some people, but seeing me and various kids interacting so easily with them, I get a lot of converts.

I won't say that my methods are the safest for my animals though. We do teach the be calm and respectful, but in the interest of education and fun interactions, I'll hand off my nice animals to young children readily. I don't recommend this, as there's definitely risk involved in not closely supervising everything, but my helpers and I have worked out a good system for this. So far we haven't had more than skinks peeing/pooping on people, and no accidents (knock on wood), so we're happy.

One thing I do try to ensure is that people clean their hands after interacting. For us, there's nearly no danger (I give my skinks kisses and cuddles and share our food prep areas, etc) but for strangers and especially anyone who will go to interact with kids, there's a risk, so I try to carry sanatizer with at all times.

The Manitoba Expo is coming up in September Might be the first one I could sell babies at. Either way, I'll be there with the skinks having a grand old time!

[dsteamn]

I bring mine to my grandkids' school and let them learn about them, along with the other portable animals I have. I think teaching young kids how to interact and respect the animals' boundaries is a wonderful thing. 30 minutes in a classroom can last a lifetime as far as how the kids will treat animals in the future.

[Nae]

When I worked at a wildlife reserve, I had a young shingle who I would tote around with me, and all the classes who came for excursions, from the little kids to the kids my age (lol, it was the weirdest thing having a group of teens, many older and much taller then me call me 'Miss', but thats OT ) love him. I would either hold him whilst he was patted, sit younger kids in a small circle on the grass (so then no matter how far he went, I could always reach him)and let him wander, or supervise short holds. After playing with him, so many who were initially scared of him were soon begging me to take out one of the snakes, or even the bigger shingle or the king skink =D

When I was little, I also used to always take Mazi in for show and tell. Even though everyone in my class practically grew up surrounded by shingles, they were still fascinated by one friendly enough to pat and hold~

[critterguy]

Supervised holds are a good way to do it for kids. If you allow them to hold it I'd reccomend keeping them over a table or something so the bluey has no more than a foot to fall should it be dropped.

Fatal: Thats crazy you have one that is that defensive. What kind of behavior is it? Huffing and biting even after being picked up? Curious what kind of reactions you get to that. Assuming he's bitten you in front of a crowd as well.

[Fatal_S]

Critter, I have one caramel northern, Jenga, who absolutely hates me. If I could figure out how to post videos I think the forum would be absolutely amazed. I know Zach was when he watched Jenga chase me across my bed on webcam, lol. He lunges when I walk past, does deathrolls against the glass, always tries to attack, etc. Getting into his tank is a big hassle, and he's big and has very sharp teeth (I've seen scalpel-like incisions in F/T rats!). There is no place on his body you can grab that he can't get you (he's so flexible it's scary). And if he's out, he will literally chase me around the room trying to attack me. However, the one thing he hates more than me is the camera, so I get lots of photos of the inside of his mouth. I've had him 3 years now and we've only had one time where we got along, and it's still one of my special memories. Despite all this, he's one of my favorites <3

[Ectothermicfauna]

My Sport (one of Jeff's babies) was originally supposed to be part of a australia display but after a short time in our care we recognized a special niche for him and now is the honorary reptile embassador for the South Alaskan Herpetological Society. He's the first one pulled out for showings and for educating both kids and the skittish human types. Were even working on a little shirt/harness that looks just like the ones a guide dog would wear. Although im not sure sport will appreciate the affront to his masculinity. lol too cute.

[El Lobo]

@Ectothermicfauna

I have to say I am terribly confused by the names of the Northerns.

[critterguy]

Ectothermicfauna: I doubt a harness etc. would work. We made a party hat for my guys birthday celebration with a ribbon to secure it and he managed to always get it down past his forearms eventually. I think if you put it on snug enough to prevent that the skink would probably be quite uncomfortable.

[dsteamn]

Forget the harness idea, trust me. When I got my first bluey, I tried EVERY possible way to put one on him. My daughter even tried special making one for him. That's why I have the pic on my avatar with him wearing a full body ferrett harness. He got out of that in less than 30 seconds. They just fold their front legs back and walk right out of them.

If you ever get it figured out, let me know. I'm first in line to buy one.

[Lauriek]

I have a shingleback, Sheba, who just loves sitting on my shoulder and viewing the world. She was on my shoulder when I was driving, much to the horror of DH and some motorists as they pulled up along side me! I wouldn't take any of the blotchies out. Bliss and Barnum have 'very strong personalities' especially Barnum - she will open her mouth and people think she's biting when she's using her mouth as a hand and exploring her environment. Bliss is just inquisitive but will hiss quite readily. Sheba? Just turns her head and looks at you.

[critterguy]

dsteam: Is that harness done up with velcro straps and everything?

[Adalon]

When I was around 11-12 years old I used to do presentations for schools that my grandpa was either principal of or volunteered teaching at. I had a pair of rosy boas, a corn snake, a king snake and the kids favorite was an adopted 2' african plated lizard that I would let them feed bananas to. Looking back on it now, there's no doubt that those presentations were a memorable and positive experience for a lot of those kids. Where I live in California the few reptiles we have never let you get close or if you do get close the experience isn't usually pleasant (and the fact that rattlesnakes are one of the most common snakes you'll encounter locally, a fear of reptiles is pretty common).

Part of the reason I got a blue tongue skink was how social-able around people they were and looking back on my old plated lizard, that was a big reason why I loved keeping him so much. As Adalons matured he's really shown that not only can he tolerate other people, he's actually very curious and inquisitive around them. I've had family members and friends handle him when they visit our house and outside of peeing on an uncle, he's been an absolute angel.

Outside of the house, I've taken short drives with him on my windshield (grippable carpet to walk on and a towel to hide under if he's ever stressed) where I'm sure he received more than a few double takes and surprised the heck out of a few fast food employees lol.

Also our next door neighbor has two 8-10 year old girls, who had never seen a reptile outside the zoo, that loved petting and feeding Adalon so much that they knocked on our door in the middle of their birthday party to borrow Adalon. You should have seen the grin on the older one's face as she greeted all her friends with a 20" skink resting on her shoulder! I came to supervise of course, but I don't think it was even necessary as the 10 year old remembered how I taught her to hold Adalon and coached each of her friends before she let them handle him. The next day her dad brought me a leftover piece of cake and thanked me for he said was by far the most memorable part of the entire party.

I also snuck him in a few weeks ago to a medical center I lecture and volunteer at and showed him off to a bunch of the staff that were blown away by how big and friendly he was. Not a single person there had ever seen anything like that. The head doctor even grabbed a camera and about 14-15 different staff members posed and took pictures holding Adalon (and he didn't even pee on someone!) so suffice to say he was a big hit. The couple times I've been back that's all anyone can talk about and some of the staff who missed seeing him want me to bring him in again.


I have an aunt who teaches kindergarten and a cousin who's a special ed teacher that I've considered asking if they want me to bring in Adalon some day. I'm just afraid that now a days there is too much liability for the school to even consider letting someone do a presentation like I used to as a kid. Still I think it's a fantastic idea to let kids to be exposed to reptiles in a safe and supervised environment like a classroom and grow up having a better understanding and appreciation for something they would likely otherwise never experience.

Adalon just has an incredible personality thats a shame to waste on just me alone when there are so many people out there who can experience and learn just how wonderful reptiles like blue tongue skinks can be. In the future I'm definitely going to be looking for opportunities where I can bring him along and make someones day.



edit: I don't think anyone here advises exposing a skink to stress and danger outside their home, so don't take my story as any kind of encouragement to carry your skink around with you everywhere.

Also when I am moving him around outside the house or my car I keep him inside of an open pillowcase set inside of an over the shoulder laptop bag. He just barely fits in the bag now, but it's plenty roomy for him to turn around and it's less conspicuous in public if you don't want to frighten anyone. I still want to figure out some way to modify like an archery quiver or some long tube-like object to carry him in, Adalons always loved paper towel tubes and pvc pipes.

[reptile lover]

Does anyone know any good places to take your Blue tongue skink out just for socializing and having fun with him/her?