March 7th, Marana’s Heritage Conservancy celebrated its 36th annual Founders’ Day celebration at Ora Mae Harn Park, 13250 N. Lon Adams Road in Marana. 1st Response Wildlife had a booth at the park where it exhibited 7 rattlesnakes, two non venomous snakes, a Gila monster and 1st Response Reptile and Animals of the Sonoran Desert Guide Books for visitors to see.
1st Response Wildlife’s booth was located in the “kids,” section of the exhibits, nestled between the Martial Arts/Gym exhibits, in front of the climbing wall and next to the snow cone booth. Families, couples, Firemen, Policemen, and other interested parties took time to view the rattlers in their locked displays, page through the Guide Book's pictures, ask questions and, for those more adventuresome, hold and get their picture taken with one of the non-venomous snakes.
1st Response Wildlife brought representative examples of 7 of the rattlers, native to Arizona some of which, however, are not found in the immediate area surrounding Tucson or Marana. The fact that visitors could view and ask about the various reptiles from different parts of Arizona made it more interesting than just seeing the common varieties to the immediate area. In addition, since 1st Response Wildlife is in the business of trapping and relocating nuisance animals, as well as reptiles, lizards, and exotics, many visitors commented on finding value in being able to page through the 1st Response Wildlife Animal Guide Book, which have pictures of a majority of the animals common to Arizona, some not seen either in the area, or rarely seen at all because they are primarily nocturnal.
The exhibit below had the following on display: Venomous snakes-Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Arizona Black Rattlesnake, Speckled Rattlesnake, Sidewinder Rattlesnake, Black Tail Rattlesnake, Mojave Rattlesnake, and Tiger Rattlesnake. Venomous Lizard-Gila Monster. Non-venomous-Northern Mountain King Snake and Gopher snake. (Note the venomous snakes have locks on the displays, but to the right, in the front, is a simple glass enclosure with the Gopher snake in it that is secure, but not locked. This is because this particular Gopher snake is one of the “education,” reptiles and has proven to be gentle. In the back left of the exhibit, you can see the 1st Response Wildlife Guide Books on the table.)
Several children and some adults asked and were allowed to experience holding and taking pictures with one or more of the non-venomous Gopher and Northern Mountain King Snakes. These snakes remained friendly and provided visitors with an experience of getting up close to a reptile without fear. Here we see an adult getting a chance to handle a gopher snake. The following picture is of a child getting to know a gopher snake.
All in all, it was a good, but long day for visitors and, certainly there were a number of children who expressed interest in reading this blog to find out more details on reptiles and animals of the Sonoran Desert.
If you have any nuisance animals, reptiles, or even exotics that you find on your property and would like help in understanding what can be done to discourage them, or would like to have them removed, please do not hesitate to give 1st Response Wildlife a call.
Thanks for considering 1st Response Wildlife
Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517
Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, hawks, ducks, squirrels (ardilla), peacocks, coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children or have an exotic sighting in your neighborhood. 520-260-9517
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