Do we really get to touch them?

Yes! Most our animals are used to being pet and some can even be held by children who can follow basic instruction. Some of the animals tolerate more handling and some have bad days in which cases we'll leave them at home or limit their interaction time during an encounter.  You also do not have to touch any of the animal ambassadors. We will never push anyone to pet or handle any of our animals that are not comfortable with them. We are happy to lead look-only encounters, if requested. 

Do your animals bite?

Yes! All animals, including humans, will bite if you give them a reason to. Our critters, however, are pets who have been handled with love since they were born or hatched. We have never had an incident of biting or any type of aggression in any of our encounters as all the animals are in contact with one of our handlers at all times and children interacting with the animals are always monitored by parents, teachers, guardians or one of our staff members.

Are any of your animals venomous or poisonous? 

Absolutely not. 

What is the appropriate age group for Encounters? 

Age 3 and up! Young children love to see the animals up close and feel the hard shell of our giant tortoise or soft spikes of our bearded dragon. Older kids enjoy learning and getting a chance to feel and hold all the different critters and understand how they have all evolved differently to suit their natural habitat. Adults love overcoming their lifelong fear of certain animals and often end up leaving the encounter with a new love and understanding of our exotic friends.

Are the animals your pets?

Yes! All of our animals live in our home or in the indoor animal enclosure we had added onto our home. All the animals live in their own locked enclosures that we are happy to describe and answer any questions about during an encounter. All have their own little personalities just like a dog or a cat. 

Do you sell animals or encourage them to be kept as pets?

Not usually. We generally discourage keeping exotic animals as pets as so many people purchase or adopt animals without understanding the commitment and difficulty that comes along with owning them. Many exotic reptiles tend to prefer to be left in their enclosures and do not tolerate much handling which many pet-parents find unappealing. The critters of Schoolhouse Reptiles are all very special critters that tolerate more than average handling and we do our best to provide comfortable, healthy and even spoiled lives as a reward for being such fantastic animal ambassadors.  (However, if you do have a pet reptile or exotic animal or are planning on getting one, we encourage you to use us as a resource for information. We are always happy to spread our knowledge and do anything we can to support our community) 

If I see any of these animals outside while on a hike or in my yard, is a it a good idea to approach it?

No! Our animals are very friendly because they have been in captivity their entire lives. If you see an animal in the wild or in your home or yard, the best thing to do is seek an experienced professional. Here's a link with some local groups that may be able to help:

https://www.yellowpages.com/lafayette-la/wildlife-rescue  

Do you only provide encounters to schools?

Nope, we will provide encounters at any facility that offers education! We have presented at preschools, homeschool, grade schools, middle and high schools. We love showing our reptiles at boy & girl scout events as well as camps, retirement communities, churches, family nights, etc. 

We offer a 30 minute package for party visits and table displays for festivals.